Eric Freeman was charged with handling stolen goods. Photo: facebook

According to Crown Counsel Sarah Benjamin, on August 24 and 25, 2012 Police received two pieces of hand tools, which were reportedly given to the defendant by the Virtual Complainant (VC), an employee of BVI Speed.

It is alleged that an agreement between the VC and the defendant for the sale of the items occurred during the first two weeks of August 2012. On August 24, 2012 the VC became suspicious of the defendant following a conversation with him and subsequently made a report to the Police.

Investigations were conducted as a result of that report and on August 29, 2012 a search warrant was obtained and executed at the residence of the defendant. As a result, the defendant was subsequently arrested on suspicion of theft.

While at the Road Town Police Station under a caution interview, the defendant was asked about the two pieces of hand tools and allegedly stated he had received the tools from a friend in Florida who visited the Virgin Islands during the 2012 Festival Season. He also said the friend had given him the tools to sell.

Upon the conclusion of the interview, the court heard, the defendant requested to have another interview done as he allegedly expressed that he hadn't spoken the truth in the first interview. A second caution interview was done with the defendant during which time he allegedly said he received the tools from an employee of Tool Town in the Baughers Bay area. As a result he was subsequently charged and granted station bail.

Freeman's attorney Mr Menelik Miller, in his application for bail, said the defendant had attended court twice on police bail and given the relatively low value of the tools, which he estimated to be less than $500.00, felt bail was certainly warranted.

Crown Counsel Sarah Benjamin requested that Freeman’s travel documents be lodged but his attorney said that the charges did not suggest that his client should be penalised by having his travel documents taken away. He then recommended that surety should be enough for the modest sum he had estimated.

Magistrate Tamia Richards agreed that there was no need for seizure of the defendant’s passport and offered $45,000.00 bail with one surety. She then advised that disclosure in the matter be made by October 26, 2012.

The defendant is required to return to court on November 5, 2012.