An 11-year-old Jamaican boy whose parents reportedly cannot control him will be deported from Antigua & Barbuda.
The Primary School student appeared before Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh on Monday February 27 and pleaded guilty to two counts of larceny.
According to the Antigua Observer It’s the second time he was appearing before a magistrate for stealing.
The prosecutor told the court that on Wednesday, February 15, about 7 am the complainant, placed two phones – a Nokia and a Blu – on her dressing table in her bedroom. The Nokia is valued $400 and the other phone costs $30.
The 11-year-old who is said to be a regular visitor to the home allegedly went there saw the phones, picked them up and left.
A report was made to the police and investigations were conducted. The Jamaican youth was taken into custody and he admitted to taking the phones and told the police where to find them.
Both cell phones were recovered. The child was arrested and charged.
The parents reportedly consented for the 11 year old to receive 12 lashes from a police officer.
The Chief Magistrate Walsh reportedly said it was already too late to curb the child’s thievery, since he started at age seven.
Walsh is quoted as saying “I am not going to send him to prison for taxpayers to feed him. I am seriously contemplating on sending him back to Jamaica and he can steal there,” end quote.
The prosecutor informed the court that the 11 year old, who has resided in Antigua for the past four years, has been out of time since August 31, 2010.
Walsh inquired how the Jamaican youth, who was dressed in his school uniform, was allowed in school without legal status. She then made the order for his deportation.