By Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

western bureau:

Two new charges have been levelled against a St. James electrician who was facing a charge of unlawful possession of property in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

When the case was mentioned on Thursday, the unlawful possession charge was withdrawn against David Bird.

Acused of larceny

The 37-year-old of Chambers Lane, in Granville, is now facing charges of larceny of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property after the owner of the motor vehicle in question was located.

Defence attorney Morrel Beckford requested that his bail bond be modified to reflect the new charges instead of being given a new bond offer.

The case was adjourned until October 3 while the prosecution awaits additional statements and a forensic report.

The police, acting on information, went to Chambers Lane on June 23 where they saw and spoke to the accused.

Bird handed over a motor vehicle title and told the police that he had bought the car from a man in St. Ann. He said that he could not recall how much he had paid for it or where he had put the receipt.

However, he later told the police that it was his brother, now abroad, who had bought the vehicle but that it was later registered in his name.

An inspection of the vehicle revealed that the chassis and engine numbers, among other features, were tampered with.

A subsequent check with the Inland Revenue Department revealed that the title was stolen from the agency, and reconstructed to match the description of the vehicle in question.