On March 4th 2013 Tomley Roberts a 48 year old School Teacher of Speyside High School was charged for two counts of Larceny totalling $33,000.00.
Roberts at the time was the President of Carnbee Mt Pleasant Community Council(the group responsible for staging the annual Goat and Crab Race).
At that time it was alledged that on January 4th 2013 Roberts who had with him the Council”s Cheque Book went to the First Citizen Bank Canaan and Scarborough Branches there he wrote and deposited cheques for the sum of $10,000.00 and $23, 000.00 respectively and withdrew the the said sums without the Council’s permission.
In evidence Roberts stated that he used part of the money to advertise the Council’s Sports Day in the Caribbean Beat Magazine. On August 10th 2016 the then Magistrate at the Scarborough Magistrate Court Cheryl Antoine after hearing the evidence she did not agree to the offence of Larceny but convicted Roberts for two counts of Fraudulent Conversion and fined him $2000.00 or four months hard labour with three months to pay and compensation of $33,000.00 to the Council or six weeks Simple Imprisonment with two months to pay.
Roberts appealed the conviction. On November 28th 2022 the Appeal Court sat, Roberts was represented by Attorney Martin George the state was represented by Special Prosecutor Wayne Rajbansie whilst the complainant Inspector Piggott then Corporal Piggott.Appeal Judges Mark Mohammed and Maria Wilson dismissed Roberts appeal and upheld the Magistrate Decision.
As a result the conviction against Roberts stands where he is convinced (sic)for two counts of Fraudulent Conversion. He now has three months to pay the fine and three months to compensate the Council.
COMMENTS