Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter

A man accused of attempting to bribe a police officer following a routine traffic stop was fined when he appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. Charged with bribery is 55-year-old draftsman Michael Delattibeaudiere, who pleaded guilty to the offence.

Allegations are that on the day of the incident, the accused man was travelling on a motorbike when he was signalled to stop by a police officer on duty. Shortly after, it is reported that the police officer revealed a number of discrepancies with the motorbike, to which the accused man allegedly offered $2,000 so as to avoid being ticketed and having the motorcycle seized.

It is believed that before allegedly bribing the officer, the accused man said: "Officer, just take this and make it gwaan." The officer, however, was not swayed, later cautioning and charging Delattibeaudiere for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, alongside a number of traffic offences.

When cautioned, it is believed the accused man said: "Mi sorry officer, mi sorry fi insult you." In court, Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey inquired of the accused as to why he shouldn't serve time in prison for the offence.

"It wasn't my motorcycle and I didn't want it to be seized. That's why I did what I did," Delattibeaudiere explained.

Subsequently, the presiding judge ordered Delattibeaudiere to pay a fine of $100,000 or serve six months in prison. A fingerprint order was also made against him.