Two police constables charged with breaching the Corruption Prevention Act were each granted $300,000 bail each in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Constables R. Whitely and M. Palmer, both from the Motorised Patrol Division, are to return to court on April 13 for trial. As a bail condition, they are to surrender their travel documents and a stop order was issued.

Reports are that on August 9, 2009, the complainant was driving his 1994 red Suzuki Swift motor car along Waltham Park Road towards Spanish Town Road. On reaching the intersection, he was signalled to stop by two policemen, dressed in uniform in a marked service vehicle.

The complainant who complied, exited his vehicle and approached the officers who were sitting in the service vehicle.

vehicle checks

It was outlined by one of the officers that he had breached the road traffic act by not wearing his seat belt. As a result of this he presented his documents to policeman. Checks revealed that the insurance coverage on the vehicle had expired.

The complainant was instructed to drive to the Denham Town Police Station.

However, on his way there he was signaled to stop and the driver of the service vehicle allegedly said, "Squaddie a beg fi yuh."

Further allegations are that the other policeman who had been observing, proceeded to ask the complainant for $20,000 in order not to prosecute him.

The court heard that the complainant told the officers that he did not have the requested amount but that he had $5,000 which was at his home. The court also heard that the policemen accompanied the complainant to his home in Kingston 10.

On his way there he used his cellular phone to call Crime Stop and reported the matter.

He was given instructions to mark and photograph the money before handing it over to the policemen. An investigation was carried out into the matter and the men were later charged.