The Jamaica Star :: News :: Cop gets $250,000 bail

Tashieka Mair, STAR Writer

western bureau

A 32-year-old policeman appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act.

Detective Constable Roger Forrester of the Sandy Bay police in Hanover, was charged in relation to an incident on July 1 in which he was allegedly caught accepting $30,000 to compromise a matter before the Western Regional Gun Court.

Cons. Forrester was granted bail in the sum of $250,000 with surety under conditions that he reports to the Montego Freeport Police Station on Thursdays. He was also warned not to do anything to interfere with either the complainants or the investigations.

A stop order was also imposed at all ports of exit. The matter will be mentioned on August 11 to allow for the completion of the case file.

Allegations are that on June 20 this year, complaints were made to the Anti-Corruption Unit that the accused cop was arranging to accept money in order to have the case before the Gun Court, which involved charges of robbery and possession of firearm, to be dismissed.

Sting opeartion

A sting operation was planned for July 1 when the case was scheduled for trial.

Further allegations are that anti- corruption police personnel came to Montego Bay and positioned themselves at strategic points at the courthouse.

The court heard that after the matter was mentioned in the Gun Court, the cop and one of the complainants went to the car park in view of the team of police involved in the operation. When the team received indication that the money was handed over to Const. Forrester, he was accosted.

The cop allegedly denied receiving any money, but later told his colleagues that the money, which was previously marked, was in his jacket pocket, after a search of his person was demanded.

He was subsequently taken to the Barrett Town police station in St James where he was arrested.

Attorney Albert Morgan said his client denied the allegations against him, especially in light of the fact that on the day of his arrest all parties involved in the Gun Court matter were present in a view to proceed with the case.

The lawyer also argued that when Cons. Forrester left the courtroom, an ex-policeman who knew the accused came to him and placed money in his pocket to 'buy a drink' and it was at this point that his client was accosted.