Man granted 300k bail after posting stolen vehicle for sale on Facebook
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The man accused of posting a stolen vehicle for sale on Facebook was offered $300,000 bail on Tuesday in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.
Court documents revealed that on April 12, around 12:00 am, the 30-year-old complainant was robbed of her 2008 Toyota Belta motorcar at her gate by two armed men. The vehicle was estimated to cost around $800,000.
However, on Friday April 14, the complainant reportedly saw a post on Facebook under the name Quavo Cooper – belonging to Oshane Cooper – showcasing the car for sale for $300,000. After making contact with the police, a sting operation was carried out and the accused held.
It is understood that a question-and-answer interview was conducted. Cooper allegedly stated that he knew that the car was stolen but failed to make a report to the police. He was ultimately charged with misprision of a felony.
READ: Man charged after posting stolen vehicle for sale on Facebook
During his bail application, Cooper’s defence counsel, Nicolette Hamilton, argued that her client has always maintained that someone permitted him to post the car for sale.
She revealed that the father of a two-year-old lost his job as a customer care call representative at a call centre when he was arrested.
At the same time, the Crown told Presiding Judge Venise Blackstock-Murray that she has no “substantial grounds” to oppose bail. However, they suggested that Cooper be given reporting conditions and ordered to not contact or interfere with the complainant.
The Crown went on to say that after he was approached by police officers, Cooper reportedly said, “is a friend mi have name Bones send mi di picture and say mi fi sell it fi him. Him tell mi say the car “hot” but mi still do it because a mi friend and mi do it fi mek money fi mi birthday weh a come up.”
As such Cooper was ordered to report to the nearest police station on Wednesdays. He is to surrender all travel documents and a stop order placed at all ports.
He is to return to court for trial on October 24.