May court date for accused AC thieves

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Two St James residents who were reportedly found to be in possession of two stolen air-conditioning units in December 2012, had their bails extended to May 14 when they appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Maxine Kelvin and Sanjae Smith, both of Spring Mount addresses in St James, are charged with receiving property that was stolen from Claudette Cooke.

The allegations are that Cooke went to the warehouse of her appliance store in Welcome Hall, St James, and discovered that the facility had been burgled and several air-conditioning units were stolen.

Subsequent investigations led to two of the stolen units being found in Kelvin and Smith's possession, following which they were taken to the Montego Bay Police Station and interviewed. Under caution, Kelvin reportedly said, "A mi cousin from town give me it (AC unit)," and both of them were arrested.

On Monday, the prosecution revealed that its case file against Kelvin and Smith was still incomplete.

"The matter was set for mention for two statements to be put on the file," said clerk of the court Orrett Brown. "One statement is in our possession and the other is on its way."

"How much time do you need to complete the file?" asked Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tai.

"Another two weeks," said Brown.

RM Tai then asked the defendants whether they knew the AC units had been stolen.

"Do you know anything about the AC? Where did you get them?" asked RM Tai.

"From my cousin, but he never told me where he got them," said Smith.

The case was subsequently set for mention on May 14.