Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

The 31-year-old police constable, who is facing charges of kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap and breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, was again remanded in custody in the Montego Bay Resident Magis-trate's Court on Friday.

The court was informed that the investigating officer needed another week to do certain checks after which the prosecution would have no objections to Constable Omar Gordon being offered bail.

The matter was adjourned until March 14 when defence attorney, Dalton Reid, will continue his bail application.

After the court was informed that Constable Gordon had left the island subsequent to the incident and did not return to work even after his vacation leave (April-July 2007) had expired, Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry instructed the investigating officer to ascertain information as to how soon after the incident he left and whether he had indicated that he would not be returning to work.

The investigator told the court that Gordon did not inform anyone that he would not be returning to work.

Constable Gordon was charged in relation to a June 2007 incident in which 44-year-old Howard Timothy Pattico was kidnapped from his home in Bogue Village, Montego Bay. Pattico has not been seen since.

Allegations are that on June 13, 2007, Pattico and a woman were at his house in Bogue Village when men armed with guns and wearing bullet proof vests and caps marked police entered the house and robbed the couple of an undetermined sum of money. The men also took Pattico with them. The kidnappers sped away in a getaway car, which was allegedly driven by Constable Gordon.

It is also alleged that Gordon returned to the house and asked Pattico's girlfriend for money, which she denied having any knowledge of.