A man accused of stealing a 10lb bag of rice from Versair In-Flite Services Limited was fined $5,000 or six months in jail when the case was mentioned in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Charged with simple larceny is Fitzroy Buchanan.

The court was told that Buchanan stole the rice from the organisation's property, but was caught by security personnel who handed him over to the police.

When he appeared in court, Buchanan pleaded guilty, but told Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey, "A work mi a work and mi see it and tek it up." The RM then explained to him that there was a difference between "tek up and tief" and warned him that he could be sent to jail for up to five years on a charge like that.