Two arrested in alleged water meter scam

Two men who allegedly pretended to be agents of the National Water Commission (NWC) and tried to swindle more than $1 million from a businessman, failed in their bail application yesterday in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

"I don't just hear bail applications for matters that are coming before the court for the first time. It would have to be rescheduled for another date," Senior Parish Judge Paula Blake-Powell explained, noting her reason for postponing the bail application. The accused, Damion Harris and Terrence Collins, who are represented by attorney-at-law C.J. Mitchell, were evidently daunted by the judge's response.

Collins is charged for conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by fraud and aiding and abetting, while Harris is charged for obtaining money by fraud, simple larceny, obtaining money by means of false pretence and trespass on the works of the NWC.

It is alleged that between February 2022 and June 2023, one of the complainants introduced Harris to another complainant, who wanted to install water meters at a premises at Dillsbury Avenue in Kingston 8. Collins contacted the complainants in May, purporting to be an inspector at the NWC, and informed them that the meters were not giving readings, and requested $1.4 million to have the readings calibrated. On June 8, Collins allegedly visited the complainant's premises demanding the money and threatened to remove the meters. A sting operation was collaborated and $500,000 was paid over to Collins. He and Harris were arrested sometime thereafter. The court heard that one of the complainants paid more than $3 million to Harris and Collins.

The men were remanded in custody until July 5.