Tuesday, September 10, 2024

3 THE STAR NEWS • Tuesday, September 10, 2024 @JamaicaStar www.facebook.com/JamaicaStar • www.jamaica-star.com TIFFANY TAYLOR STAR Writer I nvestigators used an unfinished bottle of drinks to tie a deportee to a crime scene two years ago. The findings of a DNA analysis were shared by Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell on Monday, following the appearance of the accused Ricardo Sudlow. He is before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court for allegedly stealing five high- end motor vehicles valued at $40 million in one night. He is faced with five counts of larceny of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit office breaking and larceny, office breaking and larceny, false declaration and receiving stolen property. He has not yet entered a plea, even though surveillance footage which was shared in court, which appear to show him committing the offences. It is alleged that on March 16, 2022, between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., Sudlow forced open the windows of the offices of a car dealership located on Haining Road in St Andrew, and stole three Dell desktop computers valued at $347,000, as well as three 45-inch display screens with mouse and keyboard sets valued at $231,000. Further allegations state that Sudlow reportedly took the keys to five high-end vehicles, a 2015 BMW convertible coupe, a 2014 BMW X6, a 2019 Range Rover Vogue, a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 and a 2016 BMW 520i, all of which were parked at the premises. Four of the five vehicles were subsequently recovered. ”I’ve been in custody for two years and eight months and I’ve been trying to go to a trial. How could I steal five cars in one night? What you think I should do Your Honour?” Sudlow asked the senior judge. ”You need to speak to a lawyer, not me,” Burrell responded. Sudlow was remanded in custody until November 7, when the matter is set for mention. DNA from a drink bottle links suspect to grand theft A hidden camera was used by a Corporate Area resident to prove to investigators that her nurse aid was stealing from her home. The declaration was shared by prosecutors in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, when the nurse, Javana Shaw, pleaded guilty to simple larceny and malicious destruction of property. It was shared that on July 30, the complainant placed $10,000 in her drawer and a day later, realised that the funds were missing. On August 1, the complainant installed a camera in her room and days later, footage recorded Shaw, 25, searching the complainant’s room. A report was made to the police and when Shaw was cautioned by investigators, she admitted to taking the money as well as other items. The court heard that Shaw broke a lock in order to gain access to the complainant’s room. Shaw paid $10,000 in court and is expected to return on a later date to make further restitution. “Come back [to court] on the sentencing date and tell me why I shouldn’t send you to prison. You get a chance to speak to me,” Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell said. “I don’t trust you,” the judge added, before making Shaw the subject of a fingerprint order. The matter was adjourned until November 27, when the nurse is to be sentenced. – T.T. Caregiver turns crook Nurse steals from vulnerable patient S enior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell prompted investigators to lay additional charges against a couple who are accused of using a dead man’s debit card to make purchases at a restaurant and petrol stations. ”They need to be charged with other offences; charge them under the Cybercrimes Act. As a matter of fact, if you look under the Law Reform Act, there could be something there, but the Cybercrimes Act for sure, they should be charged,” the senior jurist advised. The couple, Oliver and Antonella Buddington, appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday, where they are charged with larceny by finding and receiving stolen property. It was shared further that the case file, which has been before the court for the past 10 months, is incomplete, as there was no statement from the complainant, who is deceased. “The investigator could get a statement under section 31 (D) of the Evidence Act,” the judge noted further. Brief allegations state that between June and August 2023, the Buddingtons were in possession of the dead man’s debit card and have been using the card at several businesses in the Corporate Area. Prosecutors contend that Antonella is seen on surveillance footage at a petrol station using the debit card as well as at a fast food outlet making purchases. “We have the analysis from CFCD (Communications Forensic and Cybercrime Division) and bank statements,” the prosecutor indicated. However, the total sum used on the complainant’s debit card was not shared in court. “This is no longer larceny by finding. Tell the lawyer what really happened,” Burrell told the accused. The Buddingtons, who are on station bail in the sum of $90,000, were ordered to report to the police three times weekly and to surrender their travel documents as conditions of their bail. The matter was adjourned until November 25 when the matter is set for mention. – T.T. Couple accused of using dead man’s debit card DEPORTEE NABBED IN $40M CAR HEIST A close-up circular surveillance camera on the ceiling of a room.