CORPORAL RICHARD 'PAMPERS' Simpson was remanded in custody when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Simpson's attorney requested bail for her client, however, bail was denied after the court was told that the complainant was afraid because his life was being threatened.
Simpson is to return to court on February 16 when he will be tried.
Allegations are that on Thursday January 26, at 3:30 p.m., the complainant drove his white Toyota Corolla motor car to an Esso Service Station along Constant Spring Road near North Odeon Avenue to let off passengers.
While there, a group of about four uniformed policemen on marked motorcycles, rode up. He was approached by a Constable who issued him with a traffic ticket for operating contrary to his road license.
During a conversation with the accused, who was also one of the four, he was told to meet him at the Half-Way Tree Police Station. When he arrived at the station the accused told him to pay the wrecker fee and to return with this registration and fitness certificates. When he returned with them, the accused told him he should get $10,000 and return and he would return his car to him. The complainant went away, got $10,000 and then reported the matter at the Professional Standards Branch (PSB).
ALLEGATIONS
Following the report, a sting operation was arranged. During the operation that same afternoon, the accused was seen along Gore Terrace sitting on a marked motorcycle beside the car belonging to the complainant talking to him. He was later seen taking the $10,000 from the complainant.
At this point, two officers from the PSB who identified themselves, informed him of the allegations against him and what they had observed. He was cautioned and told to hand over the money he had just received from the complainant. Simpson refused. When attempts were made to apprehend him, he violently resisted, ripping the sleeves of one of the officers and bursting his bracelet from his hand.
Simpson allegedly fell from his motorcycle in the process and reached for his service pistol, which he had on his waist and discharged one round. No one appeared to be injured. The firearm was wrestled away from Simpson as he resisted attempts to apprehend him. He then took the $10,000, which was in a transparent plastic bag, from his pants pocket, put it in his mouth and started to chew it. Another officer who came on the scene helped them to remove the money from his mouth.
Simpson only stopped resisting when a small crowd gathered including persons from CVM TV. He was eventually taken to the PSB where he was arrested on reasonable suspicion for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, pending a ruling from the Director of Public Prosecutions. At the police station, it was realised that Simpson had been shot in his testicle. He was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was admitted. He was discharged on Tuesday.
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