KINGSTON, Jamaica — A Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) driver who was arrested and charged in April in connection with the theft of fuel from the state-owned company had his bail extended when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.

Allegations are that, while on duty, Dwight Ricketts drove a JUTC bus along Chesterfield Drive in St Andrew and siphoned 157.6 litres of fuel from the bus, valued at approximately $28,375.

According to the prosecution, JUTC buses are equipped with technology that precisely tracks the amount of fuel in the vehicle at dispatch, as well as fuel consumption throughout each journey. The prosecution further claimed that the system indicated the exact point along the route where the fuel was allegedly siphoned.

Ricketts is one of seven JUTC drivers arrested since the start of the year in relation to a suspected fuel theft ring allegedly led by Patrick Malabre, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the operation. Malabre was arrested at his home by personnel from the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (CTOC) on Good Friday, April 18, 2025 in relation to the allegations.

Ricketts is scheduled to return to court on September 10, 2025 for a case management hearing, at which time it will be determined whether the matter will proceed to trial.

A fingerprint order was also made.

— Vanassa McKenzie