Four firemen accused of pilfering items from the site of Fly Jamaica’s recent crash landing, were yesterday taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ court to answer to charges of theft.
The first charge read yesterday alleged that Aubrey Frank, 30, of Kuru Kururu, Linden-Soesdyke Highway; Jamie Kingston, 30, of D’Urban Street, Lodge and Roiden Kennedy, 27, of Timehri, on November 9, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri had under their control articles reasonably suspected to have been stolen.
They all denied the allegation.
A fourth fireman, Collis Williams, 37, of Coverden, East Bank Demerara, faced a separate charge, which alleged that he, on November 9, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, stole from Fly Jamaica Airlines flight 256, one iPhone 5, valued USD $350, equivalent to GYD $70,000 and a Samsung Galaxy S4 cellphone, valued at USD $380, equivalent to GYD $76,000; property of Basil Ferguson.
Williams pleaded not guilty to the charge. Frank’s attorney, Clyde Forde, made an application for reasonable bail for his client, stating that he has been serving as a fireman for four years, and was previously released on station bail and is willing to comply with any conditions set by the court. Attorney Eusi Anderson, who represented Kingston, also made an application for bail and told the court that his client was placed on $100,000 station bail and has been a fireman for about 11 years. Kennedy’s attorney, George Thomas, in his application, told the court that nothing was found on his client’s person and that his client gave a caution statement to the police denying the allegation. Thomas stated that Kennedy has been serving as a fireman for four years.
Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, objected to bail being granted to all of the accused based on the serious nature of the allegations and the circumstances under which the alleged offence was committed.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan released all four men on $100,000 bail each, on the condition that they lodge their passports and report to the Providence Police Station every Friday, until the completion of the trial. The matters were adjourned until December 13, when they will be called at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
