Accused battery thief denied bail

One of the accused men considered to be a significant player in a major battery-stealing ring from telecommunications service providers was denied bail in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

He is Oneil Nicely of Mango Valley, St Mary, charged with receiving stolen property and possession of criminal property. He is charged along with another man.

The allegations are that between January 2013 and July 2014, more than 2,300 radio base station batteries were stolen from cell sites across the island, along with diesel fuel used in the generators. The theft and damage to equipment reportedly cost one company more than $100 million.

The police, it is being alleged, recovered batteries from Nicely.

In court, the prosecution denied bail on the basis that Nicely had no fixed address and that he allegedly sold the batteries to persons. The police want to recover the batteries. However persons want their money and also want to kill him.

Resident Magistrate Lorna Shelly-Williams ordered that the accused be taken back to court on October 10 in order to have his address verified. A bail application is also expected to be made then.

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Accused battery thief denied bail