Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A police sergeant attached to the St. James Police Division, who is charged with breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act in relation to a 2006 incident, was granted bail in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Forty-eight-year-old Sergeant Vincent Saddler was offered bail in the sum of $250,000 with surety.

He was also instructed to surrender his travel documents and a stop order was imposed at all ports of exit.

Sgt. Saddler, who has served the Jamaica Constabulary Force for the past 27 years, was charged on the advice of a ruling made by the Director of Public Prosecutions earlier this month.

The Crown is alleging that on July 28 last year, the sergeant and four other policemen - all in civilian clothing - went to the home of the complainant in Catherine Mount, Montego Bay, where he resides with his wife.

It is alleged that one of the policemen approached the com-plainant with a paper stating that he had a warrant to search the house. It is said that the policemen subsequently went to the couple's bedroom and proceeded to search the area without giving any reasons.

Asking for 'big money'

Further allegations are that Sgt. Saddler took the wife to another room and asked for "the big money", as he had heard that they were involved in illegal gambling. The woman however said shehad no money and they proceeded back to her bedroom where he again asked her about money.

She was later shown lottery tickets and $9,000 that were allegedly found in a drawer in the room. The policemen also took the keys for a Toyota Levin motor car that they believed to have been stolen.

The court also heard that the complainant was taken to the station where he was given back the $9,000 after being interviewed by other police personnel.

Mr. Saddler allegedly told the complainant that he would charge him with fraudulent use of a licence plate. It is alleged that, on the way to the cellblock, the accused cop told the complainant that, if he wanted to avoid charges in relation to the lottery tickets, he would have to pay him $500,000. This request was allegedly made on other occasions.

The complainant allegedly told Mr. Saddler that he could only pay $200,000 and they agreed on that figure.

Subsequently, on August 2, the complainant's wife and her cousin met with the sergeant to make arrangements for payment. Mr. Saddler allegedly told her that the money would only clear up the matter with the lottery tickets and said he would deal with the other charges later.

Instructions of superiors

She subsequently made the payment later that day at Sgt. Saddler's office at the Montego Bay Criminal Investigation Branch. An investigation was carried out two days after the incident, after a formal complaint was received.

Attorney Shaun Reynolds, when asked about the alleged search warrant, told RM Winsome Henry that his client acted on the instructions of his superiors. Mr. Reynolds also argued that it was strange that his client would ask for payment to bypass a charge that was far less serious than that relating to the motor vehicle.

Sgt. Saddler is scheduled to face trial on April 27.