Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Spanish Town, St. Catherine:

Three policemen who were charged a year ago with breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, for allegedly collecting $100,000 from a businessman, were freed yesterday while their accusers found themselves placed in custody and charged with creating public mischief.

Those freed are Corporal Marlon Brandon and Constables Gary Reid and Kidan McKoy, all of the St. Catherine South Police Division.

Different story

When the case came up for trial before RM Sharon George, the complainants, Kerron McIntosh, 29, and his 52-year-old mother Joyce Royal, both business persons, told the court that they did not give the lawmen any money as was said in a statement that the judge read.

Having heard this, the judge expressed grave concerns about the case and made it clear that persons would not be allowed to make false statements to the police and change their mind about such statements when they came before the court.

She then ordered that McIntosh and Royal be taken into custody on the charge of creating public mischief.

The attorney representing them asked if the judge could offer bail or put the case for mention early. She, however, would not relent and remanded them until Tuesday, January 30.

The appearance of the three policemen arose out of an incident in April last year in which McIntosh accused them of taking him from his bed. He said he paid them $100,000 to be released. Statements were collected by the police and a ruling was handed down by the Director of Public Prosecutions that the trio be charged. They were represented by attorney-at-law Althea Grant.