2 cops among four men remanded in custody

Kingston, Jamaica — Four men, including two police officers, were remanded in custody until Tuesday, January 21, when they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday, for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act.

They are Constables Lamar Bonner and Rohan Francis who are both charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act. Constable Bonner faces an additional charge for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act. The other two men are Steve Ellis and Alexi Edwards, both charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Reports from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) are that on December 23, 2013, a man was arrested with a substance suspected to have been cocaine. It is further alleged that the man offered the lawmen, who accosted him, a sum of money. A plot was reportedly formulated to switch the drugs with another substance, so as to exchange the banned substance for money.

However, the plot was uncovered by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) and an investigation launched, which led to the arrest of the men.

They were formally charged on Thursday following a ruling from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).