Jury hears statement of ex-cop in kidnapping case

The seven-member jury trying the kidnapping case of former policeman Alpheus Wade has heard details of a caution statement he gave to the police when he was arrested.

In the statement Tuesday Wade confessed that he was involved in the kidnapping of Kingston businessman Marc Frankson in June 2011.

The accused indicated that he was contacted by two men who told him that they had kidnapped Frankson.

He said he told them not to harm him.

The ex-cop said the men indicated to him that a female family member, who had been contacted for a ransom, said she could not come up with all the money.

Wade said he then told the men to take what they could and leave the businessman unharmed.

The court was informed that the policeman had first told the police that he was not involved in the kidnapping and that it was he who was kidnapped.

It was further told that Wade made the claim when he turned up at a police station in Spanish Town, St Catherine to report the kidnapping and that he was robbed of his licensed firearm and a motor truck.

The court was told that Wade fabricated the story to cover up the fact that he had abandoned his vehicle following an alleged shootout with the police in Portmore, St Catherine, where the businessman was rescued.

Senior Superintendent Clinton Laing had testified that Wade gave the caution statement, in the presence of his lawyer, after he was told that he was being arrested on suspension of kidnapping in relation to the case of the businessman.

Senior Superintendent Laing said Wade confessed in the statement that he was in fact involved in the kidnapping.