Santa Cruz

Two men who were employed to the Biscuit Company of Jamaica and who were accused of stealing alcoholic beverages valued at over $42,000 from the Real Value Supermarket in Santa Cruz St Elizabeth will spend the next six months behind bars.

Oneil Parker and Jermaine Daley, both of Manchester addresses, were sentenced by Resident Magistrate Dionne Meyler-Reid after they pleaded guilty in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court Tuesday.

Parker was sentenced to six months hard labour, while Daley was sentenced to six months.

Access to the storeroom

The court was told that on December 9, about 7 a.m., the men, who had access to the storeroom at the supermarket, stole three cases of Rooster Roots Tonic drink, one case of Absolut vodka, three bottles of Alize and seven bottles of Courvoisier, all valued at $43,327.

The men were held and the Santa Cruz police called in. They were subsequently arrested and charged by Constable Junior Hollingsworth, who immediately took them before the court.

Parker also confessed to the court that sometime earlier this year, he stole up to 17 cases of white overproof rum, which he sold to various individuals. The men also told the court that they stole the items to keep a party for their friends this Christmas.