A man, who allegedly stole a 14-karat gold bracelet from his employer’s residence in 2014 and could not be found for almost two years, had his bail reduced.
The man told senior resident magistrate Andrea Thomas on Tuesday, April 22, that he had no one to bail him and was asking for bail in his own surety.
Horace Ward is the man charged with larceny.
Allegations are that in 2014, Ward was employed by a man to do some work at his house. In the evening, when the complainant went to have a shower, he placed his 14-karat gold bracelet in a jewelry box.
When the man returned from his shower, there was no sign of his gold bracelet in the jewelry box. Ward also could also not be found by the complainant as he was not in the house.
It was not until 2016 that the complainant located Ward.
He was taken into custody on February 8.
However, Ward had received bail in the matter, but was still in custody as he had no one to bail him.
The clerk of court revealed that under caution, Ward had admitted to the police that he took the gold bracelet and had sold it for $10,000.
However, Ward in his defense told RM Thomas that the police were lying and he did not steal the man’s gold bracelet.
“Please Your Honor, I’m begging you for bail in my own surety,” Ward told RM Thomas.
“Sir, I have offered you bail. I cannot give you bail in your own surety,” RM Thomas stressed.
In response, Ward explained that he did not return to the job at the complainant’s house and left to work in Dunnsville, St Ann. He further said that he was living in Eltham, Ocho Rios and had not disappeared since 2014.
RM Thomas reduced Ward’s bail to $50,000 with one to three sureties with the same conditions attached.
“Sir, that is the best I can do,” she told Ward.
He is to return to court on April 29, when the matter is to be mentioned.
