News Briefs

Cops sentenced in bribery scheme

Two members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force were sentenced for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act when they appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court last Friday.

Detective Woman Corporal Valrie McIntosh and Constable Otwani Deer's convictions and imprisonment stem from a January 2013 incident in which the cops, both attached to the St. Andrew North Division, corruptly solicited $100,000 from the complainant in order to forebear a charge against him for breaching his bail condition.

The complainant explained to cops that he did not have that amount at hand, but he could give them $50,000 and pay the remaining by the following evening, to which they agreed.

A report was subsequently made to then Anti-Corruption Branch and the cops arrested and charged.

Both McIntosh and Deer have indicated that they will be appealing the sentence and have been offered bail in the sum of $1 million.

Female officer charged for uttering forged documents

Woman Sergeant Duliet McKay of the Kingston Central Division was charged two weeks ago for uttering forged documents.

Allegations are that between 2011 and 2012, the complainant solicited McKay's help finalise a divorce. The woman sergeant agreed to help and told the complainant that the process would cost US$650.

Several months later, McKay informed the complainant that everything was finalised and the divorce decree papers were ready.

Both parties met at an agreed location, where the exchange took place. The document was later discovered to be forged.

Massive ganja seizure in Westmoreland

On Tuesday, members of the Narcotics Division seized approximately 1,300 pounds of compressed ganja during an operation along the Water Wheel main road in Cave district, Westmoreland.

Reports are that about 1:40 p.m., a Freightliner truck, which was suspected to have been carrying the illicit drug, was signalled by lawmen to stop.

The driver disobeyed, sped off and was pursued by the police. A roadblock was established by lawmen and the occupants of the truck reportedly opened fire at the police.

The driver began using the truck as a weapon and made several attempts to mow down the officers. The vehicle subsequently crashed into a Toyota Voxy motor car occupied by police officers then into an Isuzu motor truck, injuring its occupants.

The truck eventually crashed into a Toyota Camry motor car and then into a perimeter fence.

The driver and three occupants of the truck attempted to escape and was pursued and caught.

A search of the truck resulted in the seizure of 170 parcels marijuana.