Rasbert Turner, STAR Writer

SPANISH TOWN

A policeman who was one of two persons who appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magis-trate's Court on corruption charges last Wednesday is to return to court on April 17 when the case will again be mentioned.

Charged with breaching the Corruption Prevention Act is Constable Kevin Murray of the Spanish Town Police Station and 47-year-old wrecker driver, Franklyn Henry, of a Spanish Town address.

The investigator attached to the Anti-Corruption unit outlined to RM Marcia Dunbar-Green that on March 27, a complainant reported that his vehicle was stopped along Burke Road in Spanish Town by Constable Murray who called a wrecker, driven by Henry, to tow the vehicle.

The investigator said Murray allegedly asked the operator of the vehicle to give him $5,500 for the vehicle to be released. It was, however, placed on the wrecker after the owner failed to produce the required sum.

Shortly after, contact was made with Henry who allegedly told the owner of the vehicle to get some money to him following which $3,500 was paid over to Henry. The court was told that Henry also held on to the complainant's cellular phone and told him to carry the remaining $2,000.

The man instead went and reported the matter to the police. A sting operation was set up and Henry was caught collecting $2,000 in marked currency from the driver.

The lawyer representing Murray told the court that it was a witch-hunt against police personnel, especially by taximen. The RM would have none of it. She told the attorney Sean Kinghorne that while the investigators needed to do further investigations to find out how deeply connected Murray was to the issue, the defense would have to prove that Murray did not know how the money reached Henry. The police were given until April 17 to complete their file.

The two accused were granted $400,000 bail each on condition that they surrender their travel documents and report to the police.