$100,000 bail for fraudulent transactions

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James man who was reportedly held with papers containing overseas contact information during a police raid at his home was offered bail when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Twenty-six-year-old Ricardo Pusey, who is of a Bogue address in Montego Bay and who is charged in connection with conducting fraudulent transactions, was offered bail in the sum of $100,000 with two sureties. His case was set for mention on November 7 as the prosecution's case file was not complete.

Allegations are that on August 24 at approximately 5:30 a.m., a police team, acting on information, went to Pusey's house and conducted a search of the dwelling. During the search, three sheets of paper with overseas identification and contact information were found in a chest-of-drawers. Pusey and a woman who was at the house with him were arrested. The woman was granted station bail, while Pusey was held in custody.

On Monday, attorney-at-law Morrel Beckford, who represented Pusey, successfully applied for bail for his client before Resident Magistrate Wilson Smith.

Never been Charged

"He has no previous convictions, and he has never been charged for anything," Beckford said of Pusey.

"Is the file ready?" Smith asked Clerk of the Court Sheryl Robinson.

"The file is far from ready," Robinson replied, though she did not indicate what was outstanding.

"I will offer him (Pusey) bail in the sum of $100,000 with one or two sureties, and he will report at the Freeport Police Station every Monday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. His fingerprints will also be taken," said Smith before setting the case for mention on November 7.