Rasbert Turner, Portmore Star Writer

Two former employees of New Era Homes Development in Portmore, were granted bail on conspiracy and larceny charges in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Those charged are Martin Patterson, 38-year-old of Spanish Town and Raol Richhiuli 49, of Caribbean Estate Portmore.

In applying for bail, the men's attorney Christopher Townsend, told the court his client Patterson is not a flight-risk and would prove his innocence.

"The police place conspiracy on my client as larceny is very weak," Townsend said.

Both men were subsequently granted bail after Richhiuli proved he can find alternative accommodation.

Richhiuli was granted bail in the sum of $500,000 and Patterson granted $250,000 bail. They are to return to court on August 14.

Allegations are that between December 2011 and May this year, the construction company started to miss building materials. An audit was commissioned by the company during which goods valued $4.8 million were discovered missing.

The investigation revealed that Patterson and Richhiuli were responsible for the missing items.

They were subsequently arrest and charged by Detective Constable Ricardo Johnson of the Portmore Police Station.