FIVE POLICE constables and an ex-policeman were yesterday charged with breaches of the Corruption and Prevention Act as well as conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence and kidnapping.
The lawmen have been identified as Constables Omar Francis, of the Motorised Division; Dave Austin, of the Canine Division; Kevin Thompson, Clarence Ducille and District Constable Ainsworth Williams, of the Denham Town Police Station. The ex-policeman has been identified as Guntley Vickers.
Ducille was slapped with additional charges of fraudulent use of a licence plate, while Vickers, who had in his possession a Jamaica Constabulary Force-issued vest marked "Police", was additionally charged with impersonating the police.
All six are scheduled to appear in the Corporate Area Criminal Court today.
Reports are that the ex-policeman and four of the constables were positively identified by witnesses, following a series of identification parades held earlier this week. This was confirmed yesterday by a senior officer who is close to the investigation.
With the exception of the District Constable, the men were arrested and jailed during a sting operation carried out in the Jacks Hill area of St. Andrew on Tuesday, January 28.
At the time, they had several cellular phones and a list of names of persons suspected to be involved in the drug trade. Among the list were the names of Jamaican and Colombians.
They were nabbed by a combined team from the various undercover agencies, who swooped down on the five at the intersection of Jacks Hill and Barbican Roads. The ex-policeman and four constables were posing as members of the Fugitive Apprehension Team.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the men were equipped with fraudulent arrest warrants and documents purportedly coming from law enforcement authorities in the United States.
It is alleged that they were on their way to demand US$2.5-million in extortion fee from a 32-year-old Jacks Hill resident who they claimed was wanted in the United States.
There are further allegations that extortion racket was part of an organised crime ring which involves kidnapping, contract killings and the targeting drug dealers. It is believed that the group of men might have been working for a senior police officer.
