By Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

A 23-year-old man who was alleged held by police with a large sum of money, which he could not properly account for, was granted bail on Tuesday in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Ephraim Shaw, a painter of Granville, St. James, was given a $40,000 bail bond after he pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawful possession of property.

Allegations against him are that on August 28, the police were on foot patrol on Creek Street when they saw Mr. Shaw. It is said that they noticed a bulge in his pocket that aroused their suspicion.

Further allegations are that Shaw went to the opposite side of the road on seeing the police. He was held, searched and a bank card, bankbook and money amounting to $102,000 were found on his person.

When questioned he said that he had $90,000 which he had drawn from his account. However, when the police checked his bankbook there was no indication of any such transaction.

He then told the police that he got the money from someone to purchase back-to-school supplies, but he could not provide a name or address for the person. Shaw was subsequently arrested and slapped with the charged of unlawful possession of property.

In the bail application, attorney-at-law Kenneth McLeod said that his client's actions on the day in question were not suspicious, as he could not tell that the men approaching him were police because they were clad in plain clothes.

Mr. McLeod added that his client had documents that were not for other people, but were legitimately his.

Shaw is to return to court on September 21 for trial.