Cops on corruption charge for court March 13

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:Seven police officers who are accused of accepting money in return for not prosecuting a man on ganja charges had their bails extended when they appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court Thursday.

Constables Alman Fletcher, Delroy Brown, Marvin Campbell, Devon Bernard, Dwayne Lynch, Paul Williams, and Tajay Allen, who are all attached to the St James police division, had their case set for mention on March 13.

When the men, who are charged with breaches of the Corruption (Prevention) Act, appeared in court, the case could not proceed as several documents were still outstanding from the prosecution's case file.

The seven are charged with extortion, corruptly soliciting money, corruptly accepting money, and aiding and abetting, arising from an incident that occurred in Montego Bay last November.

$300,000 bribe

It is alleged that the policemen solicited and accepted $300,000 from a businessman in exchange for not prosecuting him for a quantity of ganja that was found on his premises during a police operation.

"Are we ready in this matter?" presiding magistrate Carolyn Tie asked Clerk of the Court Reginald England when the case was mentioned.

"I will ask for a short mention date as there are some documents outstanding," said England. "The investigating officer has them ... . I will need a chance to review them."

During the proceedings, attorney-at-law Morrel Beckford, who is part of the defence team for the seven accused policemen, asked if a number of cellular phones, which had been confiscated from the men, could be returned to them.

"There is an inquiry into some cell phones that were seized. We wish to know if they can be returned," said Beckford. "Is it that the investigator has submitted them for analysis?"

"I would have to go back and check," the investigating officer replied.

The judge then informed the accused men that their bail had been extended until March 13 when they are to return to court. She added that the matter concerning the cell phones could be addressed then.