Airline fuel case to be tried May 19

WESTERN BUREAU:

The three St James men who were charged last July for allegedly stealing aviation fuel from Jamaica Aircraft Refuelling Services (JARS) in Montego Bay, St James, are to face trial in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on May 19.

Dave Morris, Rayon Downer, and Rhoan Williams are facing a number of charges ranging from breaches of the Larceny Act to receiving stolen property. Their bails were extended when they appeared in court yesterday.

The three were arrested and charged on July 24 last year after the police raided three dwellings and a business place, and evidence allegedly linking the men to the stolen aviation fuel was found. During the raids, J$2 million in cash and documents of evidential value were confiscated.

The matter involving the theft of the aviation fuel first came to the fore on May 10, 2015, when a fuel tanker was reportedly seen refuelling at the JARS plant at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. This aroused the suspicion of airport officials as, according to the police, the refuellers are only used to service aircraft coming into the airport.

Subsequent to the men's arrests, approximately 4,000 litres of fuel was reportedly found at an undisclosed location.

When the matter was mentioned yesterday, the court was told that the prosecution's case file was ready for the matter to proceed to trial. As a result, presiding magistrate Sandria Wong-Small set the new trial date of May 19.

"Gentlemen, this matter is set for trial on May 19. Your bails are extended until then, and the investigating officer is to advise the witnesses to attend," Wong-Small told the three defendants.