KINGSTON, Jamaica — The police are reminding the public of the serious consequences of false reporting.

The warning follows an incident on March 16 involving a reported kidnapping that was later determined to be a domestic dispute after a thorough investigation.

According to reports, around 9:00 pm that evening, the Red Hills Police Station received information about the alleged abduction of a 25-year-old man, initially believed to be from Antigua. The man’s brother, who resides in Antigua, reportedly told police he had received ransom demands from individuals claiming to be holding his brother against his will.

In response to these threats, the man’s mother reportedly sent a sum of money to an unidentified individual in Jamaica. An investigation was launched by the Specialised Investigation Branch (SIB), and an operation was conducted at a property on Arthur Leon Drive in Golden Spring, St Andrew.

Upon arrival, investigators found the alleged victim with his girlfriend. He was unharmed and not physically restrained. He later described the incident as a misunderstanding caused by a domestic dispute and stated that he is a Jamaican residing in Antigua but recently visited the island to see his girlfriend.

Superintendent of Police Oral Henry of the SIB cautioned that making false reports can result in prosecution.

“Investigation into an alleged case of kidnapping takes considerable resources and falsely reporting such a crime or any other offence can lead to unnecessary resource expenditure, harm the credibility of actual victims and is also a criminal offence,” Henry said.