MANCHESTER, Jamaica — The Manchester police say charges have been laid against five people in relation to an alleged extortion ring affecting Manchester and Clarendon.

The matter is expected to be before the Manchester Parish Court tomorrow.

The accused are Sheila Smith, 62 and Beko March, 21 of Freetown Clarendon; Keeno Powell 21 and Sandre Bogle, 20 of Top Hill Manchester and Careba Salmon, 24 of a Mandeville address. They are charged with extortion and conspiracy to extort.

The 62-year-old woman is believed to be one of the masterminds behind the crime.

The Manchester police say they are not yet certain if it is only the file of the accused extortionists that will be before the court or if they will also be present.

With a combination of extortion letters handed over by members of the business community and those found during the course of investigation, 79 extortion letters are reportedly in the possession of the Manchester police.

Business operators have been advised to check their mails properly because some of the letters will be disguised as job applications.

At a meeting with the security forces and the business community in the parish on Tuesday they were told to be careful and proactive for their own safety but not to be tempted to pay out any money to extortionists.

Territorial officer in charge of Community Safety and Security for Manchester, Assistant Superintendent of Police Cherry Codner, said that doing so would be tantamount to losing the fight against the practice.

“Do not pay over any money for those who received extortion letters. Once you do we would have lost the fight or you are weakening our capacity to win the fight,” she said.

Alicia Sutherland