It’s a serious offence, but the rather unique punishment meted out to 42-year-old Stephan Williams is the source of much needed comic relief in Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday (May 4).

Williams, an Ethel Street, St James native, was ordered by a Port-of-Spain magistrate to bear a placard with the words ‘Thou Shall Not Steal’—from the Ten Commandments of the Bible—in front of the Besson Street Police Station for three days.

The man, who was charged with attempted larceny, was also placed on a TT$2,000 bond and instructed to keep the peace for a year, according to a statement from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).

In its report, the TTPS said Williams was arrested and later charged by officers attached to the Woodbrook Police Station Criminal Investigations Department (CID), following a report made by a proprietor on Sunday, May 2 that a man attempted to steal a crate of frozen chickens.

According to the proprietor, he secured his food establishment, Texas Ranch, located along Ariapita Avenue in the capital, and retired to sleep around 12:00 am on Sunday.

He told police that he was awakened by ‘strange sounds’ emanating from outside the establishment at 7:00 am.

On his investigation, he saw the Williams reportedly holding a long pipe attempting to remove the case of chicken valued at TT$3,000.

The business owner raised an alarm after which the accused ran off.

The police were subsequently contacted and a party of officers responded and later arrested the suspect walking along Alberto Street, Woodbrook.