Bail extended for men accused of accepting bribes on behalf of cops

Two men accused of attempting to collect $300,000 on behalf of policemen who had allegedly solicited the sum as a bribe are to return to the St Catherine Parish Court on November 22.

They will remain on bail until then.

Twenty-seven-year-old Orlando Brown and 35-year-old Oral Francis are charged with aiding and abetting and attempting to corruptly collect cash.

When the case was mentioned on Tuesday, Parish Court Judge Janelle Nelson-Gayle, told investigators that the implicated policemen also needed to be charged for a successful  prosecution to be mounted against the men.

In court on Tuesday, it was revealed that on September 13, the complainant was at home when a police team conducted a search of the premises.

The police reportedly confiscated a phone which allegedly contained evidence of breaches of the Cybercrimes Act.

The complainant was taken into custody by the police.

He was allegedly informed by the policemen that if the case went to court he could be fined up to $1.5 million, but he could "do something" to not be prosecuted.

The court heard that the complainant was released and was instructed that someone would collect $300,000 from him at an agreed time.

The man made a report to the authorities and the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau was contacted.

A sting operation was set up and Brown and Francis were allegedly held attempting to collect the money from the complainant.

Both men were later charged.

- Rasbert Turner

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.