WESTERN BUREAU – Two men from Mango Walk, an upscale community in Montego Bay, are to face the city’s resident magistrate’s court tomorrow to answer to charges of ganja possession and bribery.

Charged with bribery is Shiva Shanker, 22, while charged with possession of ganja is Patrick Hutchinson, 21.

According to the police, Shanker tried to bribe a police constable for the release of his friend who was caught with ganja.

The two accused men, who are said to be the sons of two well-known business operators from the western city, were searched after the car in which they were travelling was stopped during a routine spot check Saturday night.

According to the police, at about 9:00 pm, lawmen were on patrol in the Glendevon area of Montego Bay when they stopped a Honda motor car with two men aboard. Both men were searched and ganja weighing about 100 pounds was allegedly found in Hutchinson’s possession. As a result, the police arrested and charged him with illegal possession of the drug.

Lawmen said that as they took Hutchinson away, Shanker allegedly took the arresting officer, Constable Donovan Collins, aside and told him that he was willing to pay $10,000 for his friend’s release. Hutchinson told the constable that he only had $1,000 on him but he would be paid the rest if he accompanied him to his Mango Walk home, the police said.

But Constable Collins refused the offer, informed Shanker of the offence, handcuffed him and took him and Hutchinson into custody. Shanker was bailed yesterday morning, while Hutchinson was bailed Saturday night.