Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
Police Corporal Clayton Lawrence, who was freed after he was charged in connection with the abduction of two men from a plaza on Washington Boulevard, St Andrew, has been reverted from being a detective.
He is claiming the reversion in March, to uniform, was a form of punishment. He claims the position of detective was a form of promotion and he was given an extra allowance.
After he was freed in August last year, he resumed duties in November last year at the Organised Crime Investigative Division (OCID) where he was attached before he was arrested and charged.
Lawrence said in court documents that, in March this year, he saw in force orders that he was reverted and transferred from OCID.
Supreme Court
He has taken the issue to the Supreme Court, claiming there has been a breach of the rules of natural justice because he was not given any reason for the reversion. He said he sought an explanation from the commissioner of police and other police departments, but was not successful. He has named the commissioner of police, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the attorney general as defendants.
Justice Leighton Pusey, after hearing submissions from attorney-at-law Franklin Halliburton, instructed by the law firm Knight Junor and Samuels, granted Lawrence leave to apply to the Judicial Court for orders to quash the reversion.
Insufficient evidence
Lawrence was freed of charges of false imprisonment and assault after the Crown ruled it had insufficient evidence to link him with the crime.
On December 23, 2004, 20-year-old Kemar Walters, of Kitson Town, St Catherine, and 35-year-old Oliver Duncan of Olympic Way, St Andrew, were abducted from a plaza on Washington Boulevard, St Andrew. The men have never been found.
The police reopened the case in April this year and are asking citizens who have information on the men's disappearance to come forward.
It was reported that the men were allegedly taken away by policemen identifying themselves as members of OCID.
barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com
