KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man accused of stealing a truck and more than $400,000 in cash was granted $500,000 bail with one surety on Tuesday amid the prosecution’s failure to submit the key video evidence allegedly linking him to both crimes.

Jason Benjamin is facing two charges — simple larceny and larceny of a motor vehicle — in connection with two separate incidents.

In the first case, it is alleged that between 10:00 am and 11:00 pm on June 20, 2022, a delivery driver left his vehicle, which reportedly contained $417,800 in cash hidden behind the passenger seat, and entered a business establishment. On returning, he discovered that the vehicle had been broken into and the cash was missing. Security footage was reviewed, and Benjamin was allegedly seen entering the vehicle.

According to the prosecution, Benjamin had been under investigation for several offences, and he and his vehicle’s licence plate was identified in the video evidence.

The second incident allegedly occurred on September 3, 2021, around 9:15 am, when another complainant parked his Nissan King Cab truck along Newport West across from Adolf Levy & Brother Limited. After asking someone to keep an eye on the truck, he stepped away briefly to inquire about parking.

Upon returning, the truck was reportedly gone. On Tuesday, the court heard that a bystander told the complainant that a man had driven off in the truck. Video footage reportedly captured Benjamin entering and driving away in the truck.

However, the prosecution’s case was called into question during the hearing when the investigating officer admitted that the video footage had not been submitted with the case file, though it was in the possession of the Communication, Forensics, and Cybercrime Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell strongly criticised the oversight, stating: “Technically, you don’t have a case against the man because you don’t have the footage.”

She continued, “The file is not complete — the most important piece of evidence is the raw footage. This man is a car thief — I have never seen someone with such a consistent record. Usually, they come here and enter a plea immediately. You cannot claim to have video evidence without placing a copy on the file. There is no case before this court.”

Despite having previous convictions for similar offences in St Andrew and St Catherine in 2009, 2017, and 2018, Benjamin was granted bail at the request of his attorney.

As part of his bail conditions, he must report to the Trench Town Police Station daily between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm; he is subject to a curfew from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am; and he is also barred from entering Newport West.

Benjamin is scheduled to return to court on September 30, 2025.

— Vanassa McKenzie