ST JAMES, Jamaica— Six St James residents, who were arrested during a police operation against the illicit lottery scam last year, had their case committed for hearing in the St James Circuit Court, when they appeared in the parish court on Tuesday.

O’Brian Owens, Jemoy Goslin, Marco Shaw, Ricardo Spence, Ayesha Barker and Rojet Powell, all of St James addresses, are charged for breaches of the Law Reform Fraudulent Transactions (Special Provisions) Act.

When the case against the six defendants was mentioned on Tuesday, the court was told that the reports from the Communication Forensics and Cybercrime Division (CFCD) were not available.

Despite the outstanding reports, presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley transferred the case to the St James Circuit Court because the CFCD report was the only document missing from the prosecution’s case file.

Spence, Shaw, and Goslin’s cases will be heard on October 3, while the other three will be heard on October 5.

Additionally, Smith-Ashley advised the defendants that they could retain their same legal counsel if so desired.

It is alleged that on various dates last year, officers from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-corruption Agency went to various locations and searched the accused individuals’ respective residences.

During a search of the premises, mobile phones and laptops with the names of people residing overseas, as well as lead sheets, were discovered. All six were arrested and charged.