Gov't to pay $21 million in legal fees for five accused cops
Published:Wednesday | January 20, 2021 | 2:53 PM
The Cabinet has approved the payment of $21 million towards the legal fees of five members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) with cases now before the courts.
Information Minister Fayval Williams made the disclosure on Wednesday at the first post-Cabinet press briefing for the year.
However, she did not detail the cases for which the cops are before the court.
Meanwhile, Williams said the Cabinet has also approved the establishment of an interim procedure for the management of legal expenses incurred by policemen and women during the lawful execution of their duties, pending the finalisation of a formal policy on the matter by the Ministry of National Security.
She explained that in a previous Cabinet submission, it was agreed that while government would not be directly paying the legal fees of cops with cases in the courts, it would contribute to a legal defence fund for police officers.
According to Williams, for the period 2012-15 a legal fund had been developed for the five cops, through a heads of agreement between the Government and the Jamaica Police Federation which represents rank and file policemen and women.
It was agreed under the heading of Legal Defence Fund that the Government of Jamaica was prepared to support members of the JCF who are brought before the courts as a result of legal challenges arising from the execution of their assigned duties.
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