Hanover cop's corruption trial adjourned until September

WESTERN BUREAU:

The trial of a detective constable attached to the Sandy Bay Police Station in Hanover will continue in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on September 14, when additional police witnesses are expected to give evidence for the prosecution.

Detective Constable Roger Forrester is on trial for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, following a 2008 incident in which he allegedly sought money to have the complainant's gun case thrown out of the Western Regional Gun Court.

It is said the accused policeman, who is being represented by attorney Albert Morgan, was found in possession of J$30,000 during a sting operation by a team from the Anti-Corruption Branch.

The court heard testimony between Monday and yesterday from two policemen who were involved in the sting operation.

One of the policemen, who was an inspector at the time of the incident, testified that on June 30, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Branch received information about Forrester's arrangement to collect monies from the complainant, who was an accused person in a gun-related matter.

He said that J$30,000 - made up of 21 $1,000 and 18 $500 notes - was marked; and a team of officers travelled from Kingston to Montego Bay on July 1 for the operation.

It was also disclosed that the complainant met a man near the car park outside the Montego Bay courthouse to deliver the cash. Forrester was later seen entering a vehicle in the car park. He was accosted, searched, and the marked notes found in his jacket pocket.

The accused policeman was formally charged on July 8, following a ruling from the director of public prosecutions.