BETHEL TOWN, Westmoreland — A bus conductor and a mason have been charged with bribery following allegations that they offered to pay members of the Area One police to drop traffic charges against them.

The accused, both of St James addresses, are 24-year-old Kevington Cross of Retrieve, Cambridge and 30-year-old mason Osbourne Curtis Williams of Rose Heights.

Reports are that Williams, who was arrested for traffic offences last Monday, took out $4000 from his pocket upon reaching the police station, and offered it to the arresting officer in exchange for dropping the charges.

He is booked to appear before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrates Court today.

Cross, who was slapped with bribery charges last week by Bethel Town police, Westmoreland is accused of offering a policeman $5000 to drop a charge against him for driving without a licence.

Another policeman who saw what Cross was doing, took the money, after which he arrested and charged him.

He, too, is booked to appear before the Whithorn Resident Magistrate’s Court today.