A St Catherine man who had originally pleaded guilty with explanation to bribing a policeman had his plea changed, and the matter sent to trial when he appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

He is Averel Reid, a 40-year-old driver of Spanish Town, St Catherine.

When the case was mentioned before Resident Magistrate Ann-Marie Nemhard, Reid told the court that the money found by the police was in the envelope from earlier that morning and it was not a bribe. He was told that his plea was not accepted and a trial would shed more light on the matter.

bus with children

He was subsequently granted $50,000 bail to reappear in court on July 5.

Allegations outlined by Inspector Everton Laidley of the Spanish Town Police Station are that about 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 18 a police party was conducting traffic enforcement duties along the Spanish Town bypass in St Catherine.

Reid was seen driving a Toyota bus with children along the road.

He was stopped by the police and it was observed that he did not have a road licence.

He reportedly told Constable Miguel Ebanks that, "He tek care a police a street" and told the policeman he should "Tek the $1,500 wrapped inside and give him a chance."

The policeman called his superior and Reid was charged with attempting to bribe a policeman.