Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
TWO OF three policemen charged with breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, who failed to appear in court, were yesterday being sought by the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) Internal Affairs Division.
The court learnt yesterday that, some time in July last year, a businessman was involved in a dispute in Portmore. The police were brought in and he was taken to the Bridgeport Police Station where Constable Gary Reid, who was present at court yesterday, asked him to pay over money to the complainant and forget about the case.
MONEY COLLECTED
The court was told that, some time after that, Reid collected $6,000 from the accused businessman.
On September 24, 2005, about 2:00 a.m., the businessman was taken from his bed by members of a police party, headed by Corporal Marlon Brandon, to the Bridgeport Police Station as a suspect in an assault on another individual.
The court was told that, during that time, Cpl. Brandon and another policeman solicited $100,000 from the businessman for his release. The money was paid over and the businessman subsequently reported the matter to the Internal Affairs Division and an investigation was conducted.
A file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions who ruled that Cpl. Brandon, Constable Reid and the other policeman, whose name was not mentioned, be charged.
When the case came up in the court yesterday, only Reid appeared. The investigating officer told Resident Magistrate Carol Edwards that the other two men could not be located after reporting sick and are now being sought.
