WESTERN BUREAU

Two Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) workers, who were charged with obtaining money under false pretences in October, were granted bail when they appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Hilroy Bulgin, 27, an electrical technician of Somerton, St James, and Evon Boothe, a 39-year-old technical assistant from Falmouth, Trelawny, were granted $150,000 bail with surety. Boothe was ordered to report to the Falmouth Police Station while Bulgin is to report to the Coral Gardens Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They were also told to surrender their travel documents and a stop order was imposed on both at all ports of exit and entry.

The men, who have been in custody since October 22, were charged after they tried to solicit $50,000 from a tenant at a business place for them to replace a meter that they said had been tampered with. However, it was later revealed that there was nothing wrong with the meter.

Significant fines

Bulgin, who wept on previous occasions when the matter was mentioned, breathed a sigh of relief when the bail offer was made, as he had told the court that he needed to be available to his daughter, who had been experiencing seizures.

The matter is scheduled for mention on December 16 for the prosecution to complete the case files.

Allegations are that on October 21, the accused men visited a business place in Montego Bay and told a tenant that a meter at the property had been tampered with. Boothe allegedly told the complainant that he would have to remove the meter and would return it in a few days. He also told her that she would be prosecuted and would have to pay significant fines. The tenant, however, said that she would have to talk to the landlord.

It is reported that the landlord spoke to the accused men and asked what they could do to assist the tenant, as her business could not function without electricity.

It is alleged that they told the landlord it would cost $50,000 for a new meter. As a result, the landlord asked them to return the following day. He subsequently contacted the police and an operation was arranged.

Bulgin was arrested when he returned, allegedly to collect the money. He later took the police to Lower Bevin Avenue where Boothe was held. A specialist from the Kingston office went to the business place and tested the meter and reported that the meter was accurate.

The court was also told that the men had approached another tenant in a similar manner; however, no statement was given as no money was handed over.