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Cops linked to car stealing ring granted bail

THE FOUR POLICEMEN charged in a car stealing ring were granted bail when they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court recently.

They are Constables Floyd Hutchinson, Andre Williams, Kevron Williams and Nicholas Haynes. Andre Williams, believed to be the mastermind behind the ring, is charged with six counts of conspiracy. Hutchinson is charged with one count of receiving stolen property - as he was found in possession of a Honda Civic - and one count of conspiracy while Haynes is charged with two counts of receiving stolen property and one count of conspiracy. Kevron Williams is charged with one count of conspiracy.

The men were each granted $750,000 bail with one, two or three sureties by RM Martin Gayle. As a condition of their bail they are required to surrender travel documents. Andre Williams and Nicholas Haynes were, however, ordered to report to the police every day between the 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Haynes is to report to the Nain Police Station in St. Elizabeth, while Williams is to report to the Bridgeport Police Station in St. Catherine.

Must report to stations

The other two policemen are to report to the police every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Hutchinson was ordered to report to the Caymanas Police in St. Catherine, while the other Williams is required to report to the Santa Cruz Police Station.

They will return to court on September 6 when the matter will again be mentioned.

The court heard that on June 27, the four were arrested after Haynes was found in possession of two Honda Civic cars stolen March and May 2004. Hutchinson was found in possession of a Honda Civic stolen in April 2004. The cars were allegedly purchased by Andre Williams with money he had collected from two of the accused men. The chassis number on the cars were allegedly changed and the relevant car documents relating to the changes were fraudulently obtained from the Tax Collectorate.