SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

A policeman who allegedly tried to get money from a man in custody by telling him that there was a stronger charge against him was granted bail in the sum of $500,000 when he appeared yesterday in the Spanish Town RM Court, charged with breaching the Corruption Prevention Act.

The court was informed that Detective Constable Christopher Royal, of the Portmore Police Station, allegedly told a prisoner who was in custody on assault charges that he would be charged with robbery with aggravation.

It was further outlined that the policeman informed the suspect that, if he got $70,000, the charges would be dropped and that he should contact relatives to provide the money.

It was also alleged that a relative of the man in custody made a report to the Office of Professional Responsibility and, about 5:00 p.m. on March 1, a sting operation was set up by detectives at the Greater Portmore Mall where Royal was held taking $6,000 from the relative.

Not guilty

He was taken into custody and a file was prepared and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who handed down a ruling on Tuesday that Royal should be charged. When he appeared before RM Sharon George, his attorney Grant, said that her client was not guilty and that the Crown's case was at best incomplete.

- R.T.