Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry ordered an alleged victim to pay court costs in the sum of $10,000 after she declined to give evidence against her cousin who had been charged with stealing her cell phone.

Taunda Griffith had accused Leon Charles of stealing a cell phone worth $125,000 on August 20. He was arrested and charged with simple larceny. Charles then pleaded not guilty when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

His attorney Debra Backer told the court that Charles had been informed that Griffith did not wish to continue with the case since the cell phone which belonged to another cousin but was given to Griffith for safekeeping, had been recovered.

The magistrate dismissed the case and ordered Griffith to pay the court costs.