Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2022)

441.   Unlawful possession of property suspected to have been stolen

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    (1)   A person who has in his or her possession or conveys in any manner anything which is reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained, and who does not give an account to the satisfaction of the Court, as to how he or she came by it is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for 2 years.

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    (2)   Where a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) refuses or is unable to satisfy the Court that his or her possession of the thing is lawful it shall be deemed to be prima facie evidence of his or her guilt and the Court may convict him or her accordingly.

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    (3)   Where a person charged with an offence under section (1) declares—

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      (a)     that he or she received the thing from another person; or

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      (b)     that he or she was employed as a carrier, agent, or servant, or to convey the thing for some other person,

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    the Court may cause every such person, and also if necessary, every former or pretended purchaser, or the person from whom the person charged came by the thing to be brought before the Court and examine witnesses upon oath concerning the thing.

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    (4)   Where it appears to the Court that any person who had possession of anything, has reasonable cause to believe the thing has been stolen or unlawfully obtained, the person is deemed to have had possession of the thing at the time when, and place where, the thing was found and seized, and is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for one year.

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    (5)   The possession of a carrier or agent, is deemed to be the possession of the person who employed the carrier or agent, to convey such thing, and that person is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for 18 months.

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    (6)   If the value of the thing exceeds $2,000 the magistrate may deal with the charge as indictable and the accused is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for 5 years.

Cattle Stealing