KINGSTON, Jamaica — Two policemen, who are facing assault and corruption charges for allegedly soliciting money from a ‘robot’ taxi operator, were granted bail in the sum of $200,000 when they appeared in the St Catherine Parish Court today.

The motorist was said to be operating his private motorcar as a taxi on Saturday, August 26, when he was pulled over by the two accused officers — Sergeant Lloyd McLaughlin and Constable Omar McCarthy.

According to reports from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), the lawmen issued a ticket to the driver and seized the motor vehicle when they realised he was operating it as a public passenger vehicle (PPV) without the necessary license.

However, it is reported that while they were heading to the police station, McCarthy solicited and accepted the sum of $30,000 in the presence of McLaughlin. The motorist was then released and his vehicle returned.

A report was later made to MOCA, which resulted in an investigation being conducted and a file prepared and sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The ruling was returned yesterday, stating that the policemen be charged.

MOCA did not state what the assault charges stemmed from.