Four cops have been charged in connection with their involvement in the release of a prisoner early this year.

The four were charged yesterday by personnel from the Anti-Corruption Branch after the prisoner Greg Taylor was released from the Freeport Police Station in the western parish of St James on January 30.

The corporal and three constables were slapped with charges under the Corruption Prevention Act following intensive investigation.

Constable Kirton Green was charged with corruptly soliciting money in the performance of his public functions, after he solicited $150,000 for Greg Taylor's release.

Green was also charged with corruptly soliciting money in the performance of his public function after he was accused of soliciting $500,000 for Taylor's release. The charges are being considered separately.

Also charged with corruptly accepting money in the performance of his public functions is Constable Raymond Johnson, after he reportedly accepted $220,000 for the release of the same prisoner.

Johnson was also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by aiding and abetting Taylor's unlawful release.

Constable Alicia Hutchinson-Brooks was charged with corruptly accepting money in the performance of her public functions for accepting $220,000 for Taylor's release.

She was also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by aiding and abetting Taylor's release.

charged

Constable Faye Falconer was charged with harbouring a prisoner contrary to common law, committed on February 24.

It was reported that on January 30, the prisoner was picked up from the Freeport Police Station by two police officers, one of whom was a female constable, they told the authorities that they were taking him to court in the neighbouring parish of Westmoreland.

It's alleged that during the journey they released him into the custody of someone and collected the money and later reported that the prisoner had escaped.

The prisoner was later found at the home of a female constable.