Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James man who was arrested by the Area One police in April under allegations that he tried to bribe them after failing to account for a large quantity of meat he was transporting will make his next court appearance today.

Phillip Stephens is charged before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court with unlawful possession of property and breaches of the Corruption (Prevention) Act. He was given the new court date when the matter was mentioned on Monday.

It is alleged that, on April 4, a team of officers from the Area One police, and the Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit, were on patrol in the Market Circle area of Montego Bay when they saw Stephens travelling in a motor vehicle and signalled him to stop. His vehicle was searched and the meat found, which he could not properly account for.

It is further alleged that Stephens offered $101,000 to the officers. When advised of the charge of bribery, he reportedly said, "A nuh bribe me a bribe oonu, a help me want oonu fi help a thing."

He was subsequently taken to the Barnett Street Police Station where he was arrested and charged.

It is also understood that Stephens' arrest occurred during a police operation in the Charles Gordon Market, in Montego Bay, during which over 1,680 pounds of meat were seized and destroyed. Twelve butchers were also taken into custody.