Thirty-one year old, Philbert Grant, a haulage contractor of St Ann who is before the St Ann’s Bay RM court on fraud charges was granted bail in the sum of $5-M when he reappeared before RM Andrea Thomas on Monday, June 23, 2014. Grant is before the court after it is alleged that he defrauded Kemtek Development and Construction Limited, located in Drax Hall, St Ann, of more than $20-M, by collecting money from the construction company without delivering sand and aggregate material to the sites to which he was contracted to deliver. He was charged with obtaining money by false pretence and simple larceny. A bail application made on his behalf by Oswest Senior Smith when he last appeared before the court on Friday, June 13 was denied after it was stated in court that the accused was likely to interfere in the ongoing investigations into the matter. However, the attorney who represents Kemtek, Keith Newton Bishop indicated in court on Monday that another reason for bail to be denied for the accused was that it might “guarantee his own safety” as it is not sure if Grant had committed other acts of a similar nature that might put him in danger. He indicated that at present the company, from preliminary examinations of its accounts, was sure that a value of $20-M has been fleeced. Bishop also proposed to RM Thomas that if bail was granted to Grant then the trucks said to be involved in the operation be seized as engine numbers and chassis numbers could be altered. Senior Smith in making his rebutal to Bishop’s concerns about his client’s safety stated that the police investigator has not indicated that his client could be in danger and that there is “no material to say he needs protection.” Senior Smith, who indicated that he has not got a chance to peruse the witness statements, said that he was yet to see any virtual complaints from any Kemtek official. He said his counterpart only had a convincing face but his argument was not convincing in order for bail to be denied. As it regarded the trucks in the case, Senior Smith stated that the focus should not be on the trucks but “purely on the money.” He said: “To go after the trucks is oppressive without rational reasoning.” Citing again his previous arguments for bail, Smith said that his client was not a flight risk and was not a leech on society as he has a paying job and also family that depended on him. Bail first offered to Grant in the sum of $10-M but was cut in half by RM Thomas after Senior Smith indicated that his client did not have the means. He said a sum of $10-M was giving bail with one hand and taking it away with another. Also conditions to Grants bail are that he surrenders his travel documents and report to the police thrice weekly. He is to return to court on Monday, August 11.
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