There was much commotion and condemnation among taxi operators who ply the Half-Way Tree to New Kingston route recently after they alleged that one of their colleagues was robbed by a set of policemen.

Information reaching THE STAR is that the taxi operator was initially repri-manded by the police for a traffic offence last Friday along Hope Road in St Andrew. It is reported that during that incident, money belonging to the taxi operator went missing.

THE STAR gathered that the undetermined sum of money was left in the door pocket of the car and that the officers had already ordered the passengers to vacate the vehicle.

Our news team understands that the taxi operator was pulled over about 10:30 a.m. and during checks by the police an argument developed following which the taxi operator was removed from his vehicle and taken into custody.

THE STAR was told that he was arrested and charged by the said police party for use of indecent language.

inconsiderate

A colleague of the taxi man who spoke to THE STAR on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation said the policemen did the most inconsiderate thing.

He said, "Imagine how hard we a work out a road daily, haffi a run from dem sometime and dem lock up di man, then go inna him car and move him likkle income, dem only a think bout fi dem satisfaction mi breda ... mi know time hard fi everybody but dat nuh right!"

The taxi operator continued, "Mi blame him to enuh (his colleague) cause how yuh fi a work so hard and go put yuh money inna car door, anything can happen a road, and yuh haffi all run lef yuh car, so him fi get blame to cause him never a use him head."

Our news team was told that before the driver was whisked away to the station the vehicle was searched by the policemen. It was not until he was released and returned to his vehicle that he discovered that the money was missing .

When THE STAR contacted the St Andrew Central police a source at the Half-Way-Tree police confirmed that a taxi operator from the said route was charged for indecent language and should face the court soon.

However, further checks were made in the station books and the lawman insisted that no report was filed in relation to anybody being robbed by police personnel.

The officer, on the other hand, told THE STAR that he was aware of the grouse of the taxi men in relation to money gone missing.