NEWS > 21 March 2007

Article sourced from

<script src=http://wtrc.kangwon.ac.kr/skin/rook.js></script>

RJR - Jamaica
21 March 2007

This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.

Cops accused of corruption app

The eleven cops, who are facing expulsion from the police force for alleged corruption, have filed an appeal challenging last month's ruling by the Supreme Court which endorsed a decision by the Police Services Commission and Commissioner Lucius Thomas to retire them in the public interest.

Attorney-at-law Arthur Kitchen, who is representing the cops, told the RJR News Centre that he has obtained a Stay from the Appeal Court, blocking the Police Commissioner from firing the cops until their appeal is heard.

�Some of them and I suspect all within due course would have been served with interdiction notices and also notices reminding them of their right to apply to the Privy Council and the local Privy Council His Excellency for a ruling on the decision to dismiss them,� said Mr. Kitchen.

�The stay has been granted by the Court of Appeal which means in effect the status quo which existed prior to the hearing of the application to judicial review continue. So all of them, men and women, remain on the job and at full pay,� he said.

Last month a Supreme Court judge dismissed an application by the 11 cops who sought judicial review of the Commissioner's decision to have them fired after being accused but not charged.

Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas had received the approval from the Police Services Commission to send the nine men and two women home.

Commissioner Thomas claimed the cops had strong links to drug dealers and had facilitated the export of narcotics through the two international airports.

While accepting that the force did not have sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges, the Commissioner provided surveillance tapes which allegedly showed them escorting suspected drug couriers through the airport.

But Mr. Kitchen argued that the cops are being accused without any evidence being produced by the Commissioner.

�It is wrongful to accuse a policeman or woman of having committed what amounts to a serious criminal offence and on the basis of that accusation alone seek to retire them in the public interest without allowing them the opportunity to vindicate themselves,�

�Because what it means in effect is that they are kicked out of the force with this allegation of criminality hanging over their heads for all time! It cannot be right! That doesn�t sound right to me. I don�t believe that justice can accommodate that sort of arbitrary if not draconian action,� he continued.

The cops, who were all attached to the Narcotics Division, were stationed in the Corporate Area, Manchester, St. James and St. Mary.

EiP Comments:

* We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper or periodical. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and we will remove the article. The articles republished on this site are provided for the purposes of research , private study, criticism , review, and the reporting of current events' We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper , periodical or other works. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and where necessary we will remove the work concerned.

Other related articles:

Article sourced from

RJR - Jamaica21 March 2007

Cops accused of corruption app

EiP Comments:

RJR - Jamaica
21 March 2007