A former bank security guard who stole funds from a customer’s account has been remanded until March 13.
Oswald Leon Branch, 30, of St Stephen’s Hill, Black Rock, St Michael had earlier confessed to stealing $1 790 from John King on January 12 this year.
Branch, a former security guard at the Bank of Nova Scotia, was reportedly on duty when he watched King use his pin number and bankcard to do a transaction. The customer accidentally left the card behind.
Branch then used the information and card to access King’s account.
In seeking bail on behalf of his client last week, attorney Oliver Thomas said that although Branch had breached his position of trust and had acted dishonestly, he was not accused of a crime which involved any type of violence or assault of any person.
Magistrate Frederick declined bail, stating that he thought it best to wait on the presentencing report so he “could see what is going on with him (Branch)”.
Frederick went on to say that Branch’s actions had not only been dishonest but must have called “for a high level of premeditation”, since he was able to get both the pin number and the card. Explaining that in this instance where Branch had never been in trouble before but had committed this offence, “there is need for intervention”.
He therefore suggested that the attorney wait for the report so that Branch could get any help which he may need, if the court found so.