A 23-year-old man who is charged with extortion was granted $85,000 bail when he appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

He is Kemar Wittingham, labourer, of St John's Road, Spanish Town, St Catherine.

In applying for bail, attorney-at-law Earl Hamilton told the court his client was a victim of circumstances.

"Your Honour, he was attacked and beaten by men on the site and he denied threatening anyone at anytime," Hamilton said.

former councillor

The allegations are that, on July 24, Norris Grant, former councillor of Crescent Division in St Catherine, was on a work site along Feather Bed Lane.

He was approached by Witting-ham who intimidated him.

"Di boss sen mi fi money and if mi nuh get it, no work caan gwaan yah," Wittingham said.

A report was made to the police and an investigation resulted in him being charged with extortion.

He is to reappear on November 20 when the matter will again be called up.