BY Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

western bureau:

Two constables attached to the Montego Bay police, who are charged with breaches of the Corruption Preventions Act, were each offered bail in the sum of $1 million in the Montego Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Constables Hubert Baker and Winston Thompson were charged for allegedly taking $8,000 to return confiscated ganja to a man.

Attorney-at-law Sean Reynolds, who represented Thompson, asked for a dismissal, stating that there is nothing in the statement that implicates his client in anything corrupt or criminal.

But when Resident Magistrate Wilson Smith did not grant his application, Mr. Reynolds asked that the bail amount reflect the weakness in his case.

"When it comes to matters like these you will not get me to act less than tough," the judge commented.

Lawyer Trevor Ho-Lyn did not make a bail application after learning that the prosecution was not opposed to bail for his client.

Thompson and Baker were ordered to report to the Kingsvale police in Hanover and Adelphi police, St. James respectively on Mondays and Fridays.

January court date

They are scheduled to return to court for trial on January 24, 2007.

Allegations are that on November 21 last year, Constable Baker stopped and searched the complainant and found three pounds of ganja and a knife in his possession.

The man was taken to the Montego Freeport Police Station for booking. It is said that on the way to the lock-up, Baker allegedly told the man that he would not charge him for the ganja, which would be returned, if he paid him $10,000.

It is said that while the complainant was on the cellblock, he saw the two accused cops talking before he was granted bail in his own surety.

Further allegations are that after the man took up his bail offer, Constable Thompson drove the complainant to Bogue, where he withdrew $8,000.

He alleges that he handed $1,000 to Thompson, who then took him to the Barnett Street Station where he is reported to have handed over $7,000 to Constable Baker.

Retrieve drug

The matter was brought to light when the complainant went to the police station to retrieve the drug but was told that Baker was not there. The man subsequently told senior officers who in turn spoke to Baker.

The complainant reportedly identified him as the one with whom he made the agreement. Baker is alleged to have admitted to the offence and returned the cash to the complainant.