V.I. Magistrate Court Judge Alan Smith shot down a motion Friday to reduce bail for World Fresh Market principal Ahmad M. Alkhatib, who was arrested Thursday after a V.I. Water and Power Authority investigation revealed he had allegedly stolen $1 million worth of power from the utility.
At the time of his arrest, Alkhatib’s bail was set at $200,000, and he has since posted the required 10 percent, or $20,000, according to documents filed in V.I. Superior Court. During an advice of rights hearing Friday, Smith granted a motion allowing Alkhatib to travel between the territory, Chicago and China for business while he’s out on bail.
But the trips are based on a set schedule and Alkhatib has to check in weekly with a parole officer, according to court documents.
Alkhatib faces charges of obtaining money by false pretenses, grand larceny, meter tampering, reckless endangerment and operating a criminal enterprise and if convicted, could have to pay between $300 to $10,000 in fines and serve up to one year in jail.
WAPA could also impose a $500 meter tampering fee and force Alkhatib to pay back the $1 million, which, according to court documents, only covers the alleged illegal connection at Pueblo Supermarket in Sub Base on St. Thomas. WAPA is still calculating the amount owed for the stores — which are owned by World Fresh Market — on St. Croix, the documents said.
A complaint from WAPA about alleged meter tampering at Pueblo’s Sub Base location was filed with the Justice Department earlier this month after an investigation conducted by WAPA’s Revenue Assurance Department turned up evidence of an illegal connection, according to an affidavit filed by Kenneth Schulterbrandt, a DOJ special agent.
"A representative of the WAPA Revenue Assurance Department also observed that the connections were in a place open to the general public and thus posed an extremely hazardous condition to WAPA personnel and any other person who came in contact with the connection," Schulterbrandt wrote.
WAPA spokeswoman Cassandra Dunn said Friday the authority was aware of the arrest and explained that the authority’s policy is to turn over evidence of suspected tampering to the proper authorities. WAPA is not making a judgment on the case, but will be relying on the courts, she said, stressing that meter tampering is a "serious offense" punishable by law.