TRELAWNY, Jamaica – A Trelawny farmer, who was in April of this year held for water theft, was found guilty when he appeared before the Trelawny Parish Court recently.

The accused, Leon Madden, was fined $5,000 for trespassing on the works of the National Water Commission (NWC) and $100,000 for unlawful taking of water.

Earlier this year, during an operation by the NWC to clamp down on theft, an illegal connection was discovered on Madden’s farm in Green Park in the parish.

Madden had what was described by Horace Binns, revenue recovery manager for Trelawny and St James, as a “sophisticated and extensive network of illegal connections”, including two large tanks in which water was stored, as well as a pump that was seized.

People who have illegal supplies are being encouraged to contact the NWC to regularise and avoid prosecution.

“It is better to visit our office and take the necessary steps to become a legal customer, than for us to find the illegal supply at your premises,” said Binns.