A 67-year-old pensioner appeared in court yesterday for failing to pay $9,360 in court-ordered child maintenance. Cyril Leslie, of Maraval, told Magistrate Wendy Dougdeen-Bally he did not pay the maintenance because he did not have a steady income for the past three years. He said he recently began receiving old age pension and could now afford to repay the fees. Leslie was arrested yesterday when he visited the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, to enquire and pay his outstanding child maintenance.
According to court documents, he had not paid the $60-a-week maintenance between May 22, 2010 and May 17, 2013—a total of 186 weeks. After questioning Leslie briefly, Dougdeen-Bally ordered him to pay approximately $1,000 a month until the debt was cleared. In default, Leslie will serve six months’ simple imprisonment. Leslie represented himself during the short hearing and was released from custody after he agreed to abide by the repayment plan and timeframe stipulated by Dougdeen-Bally. Police prosecutor Sgt Callister Charles appeared for the State.