WESTERN BUREAU
THREE DETECTIVES from the Montego Bay CIB were taken before the city's Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, charged jointly with robbery with aggravation.
They are Det. Cpl. Waldron Francis, Det. Cons. Kirk Palmer, and Cons. Curtis Hylton.
The charge arose from an incident last week Tuesday night in which it was alleged that they took away $600,000 from a Jamaican and a Colombian national after having searched them.
All three were ordered remanded in custody until Monday when they will apply for bail.
Attorney-at-law Roy Fairclough made an impassioned plea for bail for Det. Cpl. Francis, but it was denied by Resident Magistrate Paulette Williams. Bail applications were also turned down for Constables Palmer and Hylton, who are being represented by attorneys Sean Reynolds and Clive Mullings.
Miss Williams said there were certain allegations in the statements which she would have to peruse before bail could be considered.
The police are alleging that last week Tuesday night the three were patrolling the Montego Freeport area, when they intercepted a car with a Jamaican and a Colombian aboard. The car was searched and the officers found nothing incriminating. However, the two were found with US$10,000 and J$200,000.
The lawmen are alleged to have taken the money, but gave back $50,000 after the men pleaded with them.
Shortly after, the victims were lodging a complaint at the Montego Bay police station when one of the constables walked in and was pointed out to his superiors. He is alleged to have turned over money to his superiors, stating that he had got it from another policeman. The other two were held the following morning when they showed up for work.
Officers from the Office of Professional Responsibilities executed the arrest warrants on the three detectives yesterday morning, following a ruling by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. They were notified that effective yesterday, their full salaries and all other benefits would be suspended.
This brings to 48 the number of police personnel to be suspended from the police force since January, while another 49 have been interdicted and one suspended. They have been accused of various charges.
