Western Bureau: The case against the three Montego Bay detectives charged for robbery with aggravation was on Tuesday put off until February 4, after one of the accused failed to show up for court.

Among the three accused are Detective Corporal Waldron Francis, who was said to be absent from court Tuesday because of illness, Detective Constable Kirk Palmer and Constable Curtis Hylton.

On Tuesday, Francis’ attorney, Roy Fairclough told the court of his client’s illness and said that as a result, he (Francis) would not be available for the next week.

Palmer’s attorney, Victor Robinson was also out ill, but attorney Morrel Beckford was present on his behalf.

In light of their absence, attorney Paula Llewellyn, who is prosecuting the case, felt it prudent that the matter be postponed until February 4. And the expectation is that trial proceedings against the men would be concluded within the first three days of that week.

The three detectives were slapped with the charge of robbery with aggravation in December of 2000.

It is alleged that on December 5, they trailed Jamaican Robert Noad and Colombian, Alex East, who were travelling in a white Toyota Corolla motor car from the Blue Diamond Shopping Centre at Ironshore into Montego Bay. Reports are that the police officers pulled the men over just after they had passed the Freeport Police Station.

Hylton and Francis reportedly searched the car, while Palmer told Noad to pay over US$30,000 in exchange for his friend’s freedom. Noad reportedly told him that he did not have that much money but handed over US$10,000 and JA$200,000.

He is later alleged to have told the officers that he was broke, and JA$50,000 was returned to him.

The officers then reportedly left the scene and Noad went to the Freeport Police Station where he made a report.

While he was there, Hylton allegedly entered the station and was immediately identified by the complainant as one of the officers involved in the robbery.

After he was pointed out, Hylton reportedly took a superior officer to the barracks where he handed over a portion of the money. The two other officers were later identified and all three charged for robbery with aggravation.