The two female jurors who were allegedly caught two weeks ago taking money from the relative of an accused man to free him will have to remain behind bars until they are tried.

They were denied bail on Thursday when they reappeared in the May Pen Resident Magistrate's Court to answer to a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Resident Magistrate Desiree Alleyne turned down their bail applications on the grounds that the allegations were very serious. They are to return to court on December 8.

Supreme Court judge Bryan Sykes cited them for contempt of court but granted them bail earlier in the week.

It is being alleged that the jurors were trying a murder case in the Clarendon Circuit Court when they approached the accused man's relative and asked for $100,000 to free him.

The matter was reported to court officials and the police set up a sting operation. They were allegedly caught in the bathroom of a business place in May Pen accepting the marked money from the accused man's relative.

- Barbara Gayle