KINGSTON, Jamaica – A domestic helper was slapped with six months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to stealing US$350 from her boss’ deceased father’s wallet a day after he died.

The woman, Dawn Hines, was also ordered to repay the sum stolen plus an additional US$50 to the complainant by Senior Parish Judge at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, Lori-Ann Cole-Montague, when she appeared in court last Tuesday.

According to court documents, the complainant, Lori-Ann Burroughs, explained that her father was ill for three months and she and her siblings hired Hines as a caregiver on February 14.

However, when her father died on Sunday, March 20, Burroughs agreed to keep Hines in her employment to assist with household chores.

It was also revealed that on the day her father passed away, Burroughs went through her father’s possessions and confirmed that US$350 along with some local currency was in his wallet, which was in his room on a chest of drawers behind a television. The day after he died, according to Burroughs, she and her brother left Hines in the house around 10:00 am and did not return until about 4:00 pm.

The following day, it was noted by Burroughs’ brother that the money was missing and upon checking the home security camera in her father’s room, she saw Hines leave the room with the wallet before returning it a few minutes later. The theft was reported to the police and Hines was later arrested.

“Madam, where is the money?” Cole-Montague asked the accused in court before advising the woman to hand over the cash.

“You see, I view criminal matters very differently than how some people view it because why should the complainant get (just) the dead, dead money when they have been inconvenienced? Having to go to the police station and having a statement recorded, when they have been inconvenienced in coming to a courthouse like Halfway Tree, where there is no parking, they sit down the whole day, probably hungry. Why should it just be US$350? Put on another US$50 on that, madam,” the judge commanded.

But, Hines, who told the judge that she is not in a position to pay the sum, asked for some time to gather the money. She suggested a week’s time, which Cole-Montague declined.

“Madam, you were put in a position of trust. You were placed in her home to work for her and would have had access to different places in her home, which other persons don’t have access to,” Cole-Montague chided.

Hines was placed in custody to await the return of her relative, who had accompanied her to court, with the agreed sum.

After the relative returned with the money, Hines was sentenced to six months imprisonment at hard labour. A fingerprint order was also made.