A 30 year old male was fined $600 for the crime of being in possession of counterfeit United States dollars when his High Court trial concluded today February 5, 2016. Photo: VINO

According to the Prosecution, the man had in his possession $200 which were found to be counterfeit. Photo: Internet source

Justice Vicki Ann Ellis said that should Kurt Rabsatt not pay the fine within 30 days he would be jailed for one month.

According to the Prosecution, the man had in his possession $200 which were found to be counterfeit. The court also heard that he did not try to utter or pass the notes on to a third party.

Speaking on behalf of Rabsatt, Attorney at Law Valerie Stephens-Gordon said her client’s last place of employment was Bi-Water and that he is a Rastafarian by religion.

She said that with her client admitting to his crime he saved the Police time and resources.

The court heard that the man has a history of bad behaviour and has been in and out of jail for various offences. Stephens-Gordon said her client’s deviant behaviour started when he was just eight years old.

For the offence for which he was sentenced today, he had already spent about a year behind bars on remand.

The court heard that the man also has an addition to illicit drugs, namely cocaine. He, however, said he has been clean for the last two years.

Stephens-Gordon said that her client’s deceased father had left him property which has been earning an income for Rabsatt.

She said too that Rabsatt hopes to start a food van business from the proceeds from the property left for him.

“He has serious plans to be productive when released,” said Stephens-Gordon.

Last chance

The Judge admonished the man that he is getting up in age and that he needed to get his life together.

“Can we make a change?” the Judge asked. “40 is just around the corner. Do you want to be in front of a judge in ten years?” she asked. “Let this be the last time I see you in this court,” she sternly admonished.

The Judge was astonished and dismayed to learn that there was no proper drug rehabilitation programme in the territory since the reorientation of a programme that used to be run by the Sandy Lane facility. She even asked whether such options were available outside of the territory to which Rabsatt could be sent to be treated his addiction.

The judge was adamant that help must be made available for someone to kick the habit of cocaine and that it is not something that a person could do successfully on his or her own.