Cop pleads not guilty to corruption charge
A police constable, who was hauled before the court on an accusation that he solicited $4,000 from a motorist, was granted $300,000 bail when he appeared in court on Wednesday.
Twenty-seven-year-old Lerone Darby, through his attorney Althea Grant, pleaded not guilty to breaching the Corruption Prevention Act.
The court heard that Darby, who was on duty on Mandela Highway in St Catherine, allegedly stopped a motorist who was transporting a refrigerator in the back of his pickup.
Darby allegedly informed the complainant that the vehicle was not licensed to transport goods and threatened to seize the vehicle if he was not paid $4,000.
The complainant allegedly told Darby that he had only $2,000, but eventually paid the $4,000.
One of the passengers travelling with the complainant, who knew a senior officer, contacted the officer and made a report.
They were instructed to return to the location where the money was allegedly paid over.
On their return, the senior cop met with the complainant and Darby.
Darby was allegedly told to hand over the money and was taken to the Ferry Police Station where he was arrested and charged.
Grant, during a successful bail application on Wednesday, denied the allegations.
“The allegation has shifted in relation to how the money was collected,” Grant said.
Grant argued that Darby was not pointed out at the scene by the complainant at any time and that he was not working by himself on the day in question.
As a condition of his bail, Darby was ordered to surrender his travel documents and report to the Linstead Police Station in St Catherine.
A May 10 trial date was subsequently set.
— Racquel Porter