Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

The trial of three policemen charged with breaches of Corruption Prevention Act took another turn when their lawyers demanded the physical presence of the complainant.

"Your Honour, we have been told on other occasions that the witness was available and this was not so, we therefore need his physical presence," attorney at-law Peter Champagnie said.

The court was then ordered cleared by the police and the complainant entered through a rear entrance.

The matter was then postponed until April 28, 2015.

Those charged are Corporal Tyrone Harvey and constables Lamore Small and Fabian Durrant of the Portmore Police Station in St Catherine.

Compromising position

Their appearance arose from a January 27, 2013 incident in Hellshire, St Catherine. It is alleged that about 12:30 a.m., the three policemen were on patrol along the Hellshire main road, when they caught the complainant and another man in a compromising position in a car parked in a wooded area.

After accosting the men, a demand of $500,000 was made or else the men would be charged with gross indecency. The cops were allegedly given $15,000 and arrangements made for the balance to be collected.

A report was made to the Anti-Corruption Branch and following a probe, a file was sent to the director of public prosecutions who ruled that the cops be charged. The men are being represented by Champagnie and attorney at-law Sean Kinghorn.