A police corporal, who is accused of soliciting money from a man to locate a missing child, was last Thursday offered $600,000 bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Thirty-seven-year-old Corporal Demerce Sooman, who is assigned to Rockfort Police Station, was offered bail by Magistrate Maxine Ellis on two counts of soliciting and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Bail was offered to Sooman on condition that he surrendered his travel documents with a stop order in place, and report two days per week at the Spanish Town Police Station.

It is alleged that on June 13, the complainant visited the Rockfort Police Station in St Andrew to file a missing person’s report.

During the complainant’s visit to the station, it is alleged that the corporal told him that he “wanted some cheese” to find the child, whom he promised he could locate within a week’s time.

It is reported that the complainant then enquired from police what he meant by “cheese” and was informed by the corporal that he was talking about money and that he wanted $15,000.

The complainant reportedly agreed to give the accused corporal the money, but told him he only had $14,000, which the corporal allegedly accepted.

The complainant reportedly left and reported the matter to the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency.

Following that, the complainant later contacted Sooman and was allegedly told by the policeman that he had located the child and that he needed a further $15,000.

A sting operation was set up and the complainant reportedly given money that was marked to deliver to Sooman. Sooman, when held by the police, was allegedly found in possession of the marked notes.

He is to return to court on July 27.