By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 41-year-old man accused of stealing nearly $500 worth of Free National Movement paraphernalia from the Mount Moriah constituency was charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Police said Matthew Sandilands stole 55 FNM “It’s About Your Future” posters off utility poles in the Yellow Elder Gardens area sometime between August 20 and 22.
According to court dockets, the posters were worth $495. National Security Minister Marvin Dames, who is the FNM’s incumbent candidate for the Mount Moriah constituency, is also listed as the first witness on the court document.
Sandilands pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing when he appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville and the matter was adjourned to December 1 for trial. In the interim, Sandilands was granted $500 bail.
Since Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced an early election last week, posters, billboards and lawn signs have flooded the streets of New Providence.
In a recent statement, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle reminded the public that it was an offence to tamper with “party paraphernalia”.
“It was brought to the attention of the commissioner of police that some persons are deliberately destroying party paraphernalia posted throughout the city,” he said on Sunday. “These are permitted during election time as political parties campaign. The commissioner wishes to remind the public that it is an offence to interfere with or destroy party paraphernalia and persons caught doing so will be prosecuted.”
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