THE CASE involving those charged with the alleged theft of 6,000 cubic feet of sand from a property at Coral Springs in Trelawny has been transferred from Kingston to the Falmouth Resident Magistrate's Court in Trelawny for trial.

The accused are the two principals of Bedrock Building and Aggregates Limited, Devon Sterling and Christopher Pryce, and three other men. The other accused men are Desford Cooke, Edrick Grey and Anthony Hilton.

Extended bail

The men appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court Friday and had their bail extended to turn up in court in Trelawny on August 18. They are charged along with the Bedrock Building and Aggregates Ltd for conspiracy, larceny and breaches of the Quarry Control Act.

The case was transferred because the alleged offence took place in Trelawny.

The Crown is alleging that the company was hired by some hotels to source sand. The sand was allegedly stolen last year from the Coral Springs property, which was being developed by Felicitas Limited.

It is further alleged that the company, in turn, sought contractors to help remove the sand from a site in Trelawny to the hotel properties.

Lawsuits have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking damages for trespass, unjust enrichment and conversion arising from the removal of the sand.

Felicitas suing

Felicitas Limited has sued Fiesta Jamaica Ltd, which operates the Grand Palladium Hotel and Resorts in Lucea, Hanover.

Riu Jamaicotel Ltd, which operates the Riu Tropical Bay Hotel in Montego Bay, and the owners of the Palmyra Resort and Spa at Rose Hall, St James, have also been sued.

Felicitas Ltd is contending that the defendant hotels were aware that the sand had been illegally obtained.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com