A sales clerk who stole jewelry from her boss to get money to buy Christmas groceries was ordered yesterday to pay a $5,000 fine and $8,900 in compensation. Sati Nathai, 23, pleaded guilty to stealing 11 gold ladies' bands, valued $21,000, from the D&G Jewelry Store, High Street,?San Fernando, where she worked. Nathai appeared before San Fernando Deputy?Chief Magistrate Mark?Wellington charged with larceny.
Her boss, Usha Girish, made a report to WPC?Parveen Rajkumar on Tuesday. When he confronted Nathai at the store, she said she sold the jewelry to a business in?San Fernando. Nathai took the officer to the store, where they recovered some of the jewelry but police prosecutor Cleon?Seedan said eight pieces were still missing.
Nathai's attorney Annalee Girwar said Nathai lived with her parents and they were "not people of great means." She said groceries were low so Nathai stole the jewelry to get money. Girwar said she got $3,000 for the items which she used to buy groceries since Christmas was approaching.
Stating she stole from her workplace, the magistrate said Nathai breached her employer's trust. He said in?Saudi Arabia, Nathai would have lost a hand for theft. The magistrate ordered her to pay the fine forthwith or serve 12 months in prison. He allowed her eight weeks to pay the compensation or serve six weeks in jail.