Father admits to workplace theft, ordered to pay compensation

A 53-year-old labourer admitted in court that he stole money from his workplace to buy medication for his child.

Desmond Ezekiel Burke, of Clarke’s Road, Free Hill, Black Rock, St Michael, pleaded guilty to stealing $260 from Eden On The Bay on August 23 when he appeared before Magistrate Alison Burke in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court.

Prosecutor Station Sergeant St Clair Phillips told the court that the company manager discovered discrepancies in the day’s sales and, after reviewing CCTV footage, Burke was seen approaching the cash register with a cooler in his hand, which he used to block one of the cameras. However, there was another camera that recorded when he removed the funds.

Burke requested to leave early that day and did not turn up for work the following day. When he returned to work, the police came and showed him the CCTV footage.

“That is me there in the blue shirt removing the money,” he admitted.

In his explanation, Burke said that he had been at work that day when he received a call that his daughter was vomiting and her face was swollen. He rushed her to the doctor, and it was determined that she was having an allergic reaction to pineapple.

Burke said he returned to work and asked for help in purchasing the medication but was unsuccessful.

“I took up the money because that was my daughter, and to me it was a matter of life and death. Nobody was interested in helping me, and that was my daughter’s life,” he stated.

Magistrate Burke ordered him to repay the $260 within two months, warning him to “put aside a little something each time in case something happened”. She also reminded him that he could have sought medication free of cost through the polyclinic.

If he fails to compensate the business, Burke will spend one month in prison.

He is scheduled to return to court on October 28.