TSTT worker fined for illegal connection

PUBLIC pay phones are equipped with unlisted numbers. Under the Trinidad and Tobago Telephone Act, anyone causing, permitting, allowing or connecting any apparatus to these telephones without written permission from Telecommuni-cation Service of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) is guilty of an offence. A former Chag-uanas Senior Compre-hensive student, who also was a contract worker with TSTT, was on Tuesday hauled before Chag-uanas senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John, charged with illegal transfer and use of a public pay phone line. Rohit Mahabir, 19, of Siewdass Trace in Freeport, pleaded guilty and received the maximum fine of $1,000, or three months imprisonment.

The court heard that on Friday May 16 2003, TSTT police Sgt Llewellyn Assoon received information and went to Church Street at Chickland Village, Upper Carapichaima, where he saw wires leading to pay phone 673-0699, disconnected. Sgt Assoon observed the wires were connected to a house along the same street. Residents were interviewed, leading Sgt Assoon to Mahabir, who was arrested. On arrest, Mahabir allegedly said, “It was me and Jason who do it. I take $300 from the people and them for it.” Attorney Victor Hosein pleaded with the  magistrate for leniency on his client, but the magistrate noted the offence was of a very serious nature and displayed the lawlessness of Trinidadians. She then imposed the maximum fine.