WESTERN BUREAU

A Montego Bay-based detective sergeant of police and two constables are now facing larceny and assault charges stemming from an incident in May 2006 in which they allegedly roughed up a complainant and stole US$100 from him during a police operation.

Yesterday, the accused cops, Detective Sergeant Michael Sirjue and constables Oswald Martin and Donavan 'Scare Face' Collins appeared before RM Winsome Henry in the Montego Bay RM Court to answer the charges against them. Sirjue and Martin are facing larceny charges while Collins is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

According to the complainant, in May 2006, he was at a dance in Montego Bay when the trio of lawmen accosted him and informed him that they had received information that he was in possession of an illegal firearm. He was searched but no weapon was found on him.

Gun-butted

Subsequently, the lawmen reportedly requested a search of his residence but the complainant objected as it was a part of a bail condition that he should not enter the premises. He, however, complied after he was reportedly told that the lawmen had a warrant.

While driving to his house in the police vehicle, the complainant, who is before the court in connection with a murder, alleges that he was assaulted by Collins, who reportedly gun-butted him.

When the lawmen and the complainant arrived at his house, one of the lawmen took $150,000 in Jamaican currency and US$100 from him. He alleges that the US$100 was handed to the sergeant. The Jamaican currency was later returned but the US$100 was not.

Following the incident, the complainant made a report to the Professional Standard Branch (PSB) and all three policemen were subsequently charged.