Five men held at alleged illegal slaughterhouse in Central Village granted bail

Five of the seven men charged in connection with the alleged illegal operation of a slaughterhouse in Central Village, St Catherine, were granted bail when they appeared in the St Catherine Parish Court on Friday.

Omar Thompson was granted $700,000 bail after the court was told that he owns the land on which the slaughterhouse is located.

Meanwhile, Kevin Bolton was granted bail in the sum of $200,000, Andrew Henry for $400,000, Neville Higgins for $500,000 and Davian McCrae for $500,000.

They are jointly charged with killing or wounding an animal, using stamp to deceive the public, unlawful possession of property, possession of agricultural produce without a receipt, failure to give notice of infection, having no food handlers permit and butchering without licence.

One of the other accused, Kevin Isaacs, was remanded as he was on bail for another criminal offence, while Sean Samuels was remanded due to a previous conviction.

Senior Parish Court Judge Desiree Alleyne ordered the men to return to court on February 3.

When the matter was mentioned, the St Catherine Health Department indicated that 50 carcasses were destroyed by fire.

Meanwhile, attorneys Leonard Green, Kemoy McEkron and Stephen Palmer told the court that the Crown would have a difficulty grounding the offences against their clients.

It is alleged that, on December 20, police personnel swooped down on an illegal slaughterhouse in Central Village and during the operation goat carcasses were confiscated along with meat certifying stamps. 

The seven men were held and following an investigation they were charged.

- Rasbert Turner

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