KINGSTON, Jamaica — A landlord accused of disconnecting his tenant’s electricity and water supply was hauled before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Charged with breaching Section 27 of the the Rent Restriction Act is Rohan McFarlane.

When McFarlane appeared in court on Monday he told Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey that his tenant was not paying the electricity bill.

“They were stealing the light so I asked JPS (Jamaica Public Service) to cut it off,” McFarlane said.

According to him, the previous tenant left the premises without paying the water bill.

Pusey, who was not buying his argument, told the accused man that the utilities were disconnected through his instigation.

“Do you have a lawyer?” Pusey asked.

“I can get one,” he replied.

“I didn’t ask you that,” Pusey uttered.

“You are in breach of the law. How the water and the light coincidentally cut off as you fall out?” Pusey asked the accused man.

Pusey advised McFarlane that he could be facing up to 12 months in prison and that he should get a lawyer to represent him.

An October 27 mention date was subsequently set for him to return to court.

Racquel Porter