Liquor theft case set for May 9

Two St James men who allegedly conspired to steal more than J$221,000 worth of liquor from the hotel where they worked, will undergo a plea and case management hearing in the St James Parish Court on May 9.

Barrington Rankin, of a Cornwall Courts address, is charged with conspiracy to commit larceny, while Davantie Dale, of an Ironshore address, is charged with larceny as a servant.

They had their bails extended when they appeared in court last Thursday.

Allegations are that Rankin and Dale arranged to remove boxes of liquor, valued at J$221,829.89, from the hotel where both men were employed.

The liquor was reportedly taken from a storage area at the facility on September 17, 2018, and it was then moved to another location where a bus was parked.

After video footage was shown with Dale committing the alleged offence, he was arrested and charged, and Rankin was arrested sometime afterwards. However, the liquor was not recovered.

In court, the prosecution told Parish Judge Sandria Wong-Small that the investigating officer was having difficulty getting some statements from the hotel, as the facility's general manager and other representatives were said to be uncooperative.

That revelation did not sit well with Wong-Small, who instructed the clerk of the court to proceed with the information that the prosecution had gathered in the case.

"If they are not going to cooperate, this is not a matter that should engage the court's time. But if you have what you need to make out a case, then proceed to plea and case management," said the irate judge.

Rankin and Dale had their bails extended.