Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

western bureau

A third bail application made on behalf of a 20-year-old Hanover man, facing charges of robbery with aggravation, kidnapping, and receiving stolen property reaped success on Thursday.

Brenton Harvey was granted bail in the sum of $100,000 in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court after three weeks in custody.

He was ordered to report to the Lucea police on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A curfew was also imposed for him to be at home between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Harvey, who resides in Askenish, Hanover, was arrested in July after he was held in possession of a motor car; five hours after the vehicle was stolen from a taxi operator in St. James.

In a bail application, defence lawyer Morrel Beckford argued that the prosecution's case could not go beyond the charge of receiving stolen property, as there is nothing on the file that links his client to the robbery nor the kidnapping.

Not pointed out

Most importantly he made it clear that his client, a mechanic, was not pointed out at the identification parade as any of the persons who was involved in the incident.

The next court date is set for August 28 at which time the case file is to be completed.

The prosecution is alleging that on July 16 the complainant was at the car park on Creek Street at about 11:15 p.m., when a man approached him and enquired if he was going to Granville. When the complainant told the man that he was heading in that area the man and three other men boarded the taxi.

Further allegations are that upon reaching a section of Fairfield one of the men placed his hand over the complainant's mouth and placed a knife at his neck, then ordered him to drive to a dark spot.

The complainant obeyed the man's order, was eventually tied up by the man in the front passenger seat with his shoelace after he stopped. The man who was told to do so also gagged the complainant with his shirt. The complainant was also bound and placed in the trunk.

The complainant who was also beaten with pieces of iron was later left in bushes in Ironshore where he was further kicked all over the body when it was discovered that he was still alive.

He allegedly pretended to be dead after hearing the men contemplating killing him.

After the men left with the car, his cellphone valued at $3,000 and $3,000 cash, he went to the Coral Gardens police where he made a report.

The court heard that Harvey was found in possession of the car in Askenish, Hanover, without the licence plates attached.

He allegedly told the police that he got the car from a man named Junior Reid, to carry out repairs.