western bureau

Although the case file in the matter against two Montego Bay policemen charged with breaches of the Corruptions Prevention Act is now complete, a trial date will not be set until November 18 in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

The delay is for the attorney representing the accused policemen, Constable Roger Forrester, 32 and Special Constable Metro McFarlene, 33, to receive copies of additional information, including phone records, supplied to the prosecution yesterday when the matter was mentioned.

The men were charged following a ruling, by the Director of Public Prosecutions, after allegations surfaced last June that they arranged with an accused in a Gun Court matter, to have the case thrown out for an agreed sum of money.

Allegations are that on June 20, complaints were made to the Anti-Corruption Unit that one of the policemen arranged to accept money in order to have the case, which involved charges of robbery and possession of firearm, dismissed. A sting operation was planned for July 1 when the case was to be tried.

Strategic points

Further allegations are that members of the Anti-Corruption Unit were positioned in strategic points at the courthouse.

The court heard that after the matter was mentioned, Forrester and one of the complainants went to the car park. When the team received indication that the money was handed over, the police accosted Forrester. He denied receiving any money but later said it was in his jacket pocket.

He was subsequently taken to the Barrett Town Police Station where he was arrested.

McFarlene's involvement was that he had approached the accused, saying he would speak to Forrester, the investigating officer in the matter, to have the case dismissed.