Two remanded in case of stolen sweet potatoes

Five charges of praedial larceny have landed two suspected thieves on remand at Dodds.

And the prosecution, in objecting to bail for the accused, disclosed that another person is still being sought by police.

Rico Omar Drayton, 32, of Turton’s Gap, Government Hill, St Michael and Trevon Orlando Farley, 26, of Seales Land, Government Hill, St Michael are jointly charged with stealing sweet potatoes belonging to the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) from Applewhaites Plantation, St George.

It is alleged that the two stole a combined total of 316 rods of the produce between January 28 and March 1.

The estimated value of the stolen produce is $6 320.

Drayton and Farley made their first appearance before the District ‘B’ Magistrates Court located at Horse Hill, St Joseph on Wednesday where they pleaded not guilty to the charges before Magistrate Douglas Frederick.

Prosecutor Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls objected to bail for the duo based on the seriousness of the offences and the period in which five allegations had been proffered against them.

She also told the court that there was a need to protect society, especially farmers, and that a third suspect was being sought by lawmen.

Magistrate Frederick ruled in favour of the prosecution after attorney-at-law Safiya Moore made an application for bail on behalf of the men. They will return before that court on April 6.

In the meantime, Drayton is expected to appear before the District ‘A’ Traffic Court on March 16 on two offences.

He is alleged to have driven an unregistered vehicle and that vehicle was said to be carrying fraudulent number plates.