Three Tropical Battery employees and a security guard appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court last Tuesday to answer to larceny charges after the alleged uncovering of a theft scheme at the company.

Three of the suspects, Jamel Reid, Christopher Robinson, and Karl Lugg were directly employed to the company while Carlten Dale Morgan was a security guard stationed at the location.

The court was told that the management at the company started an internal investigation after discovering old batteries among its new batteries stock.

It prompted a review of the CCTV at the location and, according to court documents, it was discovered that the men were moving the old batteries and placing them among the new batteries stock.

“There is a system in place. The new batteries are not to be placed with the other kinds of batteries. But, among these four men, they have an ingenious method, which is to clean off the old batteries so that they look brand new. They would put them in the area where the new batteries are kept and they will take the new batteries and pass them on to some conspicuous person,” the prosecution told Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague.

The scheme reportedly cost Tropical Battery $3 million.

The men were approached by police officers on September 14 and arrested on fraud related offences. They did not enter a plea when they appeared in court.

On Tuesday, they were remanded and told to return to court on October 4.