A 14-year-old schoolboy, accused of stealing a Samsung Galaxy tablet from a teacher at his school on the first day of school, yesterday was placed on $10,000 bail. The Form Two student was also warned about having no direct or indirect contact with the male art teacher. He appeared before Senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie in the San Fernando First Court. He pleaded not guilty. He is accused of stealing the $3,500 tablet from the teacher at the school, located on the outskirts of San Fernando.
The student, who was charged by PC Noyan, has not been suspended from school. The magistrate was concerned about the interaction that could happen between the student and teacher at the school. She granted the student bail with his father as surety but on the condition that he, nor anyone else acting on his behalf, is to have no communication with the teacher. “No text, phone call, letter, e-mail, sign language,” said the magistrate.
Otherwise, she told the father, his son’s bail would be revoked and he would be placed in custody. “No father, mother, aunty, nennen,” she warned. Turning to the student, she said: “Until the matter is finished you don’t even look in the direction of the teacher.” The teacher asked that the tablet be returned to him. He was told it would be photographed and returned.
Defence attorney Jason Jackson asked for disclosure. The magistrate said because the matter involved a minor and a teacher she did not want it to it drag on endlessly. She said disclosure was to be made at the next court hearing. The magistrate also relieved the teacher from attendance until the matter starts. It was adjourned to October 2.
