Argentinian pleads guilty to theft charge

An Argentine man who has been on remand at Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds for some time on allegations of stealing money from two financial institutions has pleaded guilty to at least one of those offences.

Joaquin Alberto Lobo from Caseros, a town in Greater Buenos Aires, appeared before Magistrate Manila Renee on Monday and pleaded guilty to stealing $3,040 in cash from the Barbados Public Workers Credit Union Limited between July 6 and 7, 2019.

Station Sergeant Cameron Gibbons told the court that the credit union’s officials reported unauthorized withdrawals from its automatic banking machine. Investigations began and CCTV video pinpointed Lobo. He was taken into custody and admitted to the offence.  A search revealed that he had 17 banking machine cards in his possession.

Lobo was ordered to compensate the institution, the sum stolen and was convicted, reprimanded and discharged.

But the thief, who is in his 30s, is to remain in the custody of Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds in connection with a second charge.

Lobo, who arrived in Barbados on July 3, 2019, is accused of stealing $79,770 cash from CIBC First Caribbean International Bank between July 5 and 8 that same year. As the charge is indictable, he is expected to face that charge in the High Court.