Johnson told THE STAR that her aunt, who lives overseas, placed her in charge of a taxi to be operated from Spanish Town to Angels in St Catherine. She said she had a driver but after a while, she decided to take the car from him. She told THE STAR that when the car was brought to her home, there were no papers. She was told that they had been seized by the police.

No-parking zone

Johnson said the driver told her that on August 17, he was parked in a no-parking zone and was apprehended by the police who seized the papers and told him to come to the station to collect them. He said he went and waited, but did not see the policeman. On another visit, he was told that another officer had the documents.

Different recollection

When Johnson took matters into her own hands, she found the arresting officer who eventually admitted that he had taken the papers, but had lost them. He, however, had a slightly different recollection of the incident. Johnson said she was told that after the documents were seized, the driver fled from the scene.

Discrepancies aside, however, one things is certain - the papers have been lost, she is now unable to put back the car on the road, making things difficult financially for both herself and her aunt and no one is providing answers. "Mi haffi a tek money outta my pocket, fi do mi auntie business," she said.

Retired Senior Superintendent Dudley Bryan, who had responsibility for the Traffic Division, told THE STAR that unless there was suspicion that the documents were forged, the police had no "lawful reason" to seize the papers.

He said based on the circumstances, the policeman might have to replace the documents at his cost and could also face a lawsuit from the complainant, with regard to the income lost over the last four months. He added that the policeman, though he may not be liable to criminal charges, could face departmental sanctions. "There is a charge of carelessly causing loss to documents and that attracts a monetary fine," he said.

When THE STAR spoke with Sergeant Osbourne Fearon, sub- officer in charge of traffic at the Spanish Town Police Station, he admitted knowing about the matter and said the case was still under investigation. The Police Complaints Authority has confirmed receiving a report from Johnson.

No good news

Johnson said she has spoken with several police personnel from Spanish Town, but has received no good news. She said she got back her certificate of fitness, but her road licence, route licence, registration and insurance are still missing.

She said, "Mi car park up and cyaan run now and mi pay fi mi insurance and mi road licence and dem a tell mi (foolishness). It nah work no money and everybody a gi mi di run around. Is like everything gone inna file 13. Mi tired a it now, mi stressed out. Mi auntie lef har car fi do her business and it stall, four months now!"