Headlines:
| Senior cop remanded as charges pile up |
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| Monday, 04 August 2008 | |
Former head of the St. Catherine North Police Division
Superintendent Harry "Bungles" Daley remains behind bars.Superintendent Daley who was arrested last week on allegation of corruption was remanded on Monday afternoon when he appeared before the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court. Superintendent Daley was charged Monday morning following a ruling by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Prosecutors declared they have overwhelming evidence linking the senior cop to an extortion and protection racket in St. Catherine. Superintendent Daley has been charged with six counts of extortion and six counts of breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act. Prosecutors argued that since June 2007 until his arrest on Thursday the Superintendent had been collecting protection money from a businessman in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. The prosecutors say anti-corruption agents have been conducting covert operations against Superintendent Daley since February this year and have audio and video tapes of the policeman collecting protection money. The Superintendent has been allegedly collecting $20,000 per month from his victims. It was reported that in June, the businessman and his son reported to the Superintendent that they had been approached by men in Spanish Town to pay protection money. Instead of helping the victim, prosecutors alleged that Superintendent Daley told them they should pay him protection money or give him one of their shops. The victims reported the matter to the Police High Command in February. The covert operation was then set up. They say Superintendent Daley was caught red handed on Thursday when he collected $15,000 from his victim. According to the prosecutors, the money taken from Superintendent Daley in the operation was marked. The prosecutors opposed bail saying the senior cop could interfere with the witnesses. The prosecutors asked the senior magistrate to give them until Friday to secure the safety of the witnesses. Head of the Anti-Corruption Branch, Assistant Commissioner Justin Felice told the Court that he has serious concerns about the safety of policemen and witnesses in the case. He said his concerns follow a risk assessment of those involved. Senior magistrate Glen Brown is to rule Tuesday whether he will grant bail to Superintendent Daley. Meanwhile, there are more problems facing Superintendent Daley. The Police High Command is now investigating the senior cop in relation to the seizure of six guns and more than 200 rounds of ammunition at two of his properties in St. Catherine and Portland. The guns and ammunition were seized last Thursday during raids on the properties. Government prosecutors disclosed this information Monday afternoon. They say several M16 rounds were seized at one of the properties. But according to the prosecutors, the M16 rounds seized are of the "tracer type" which are not issued by the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Ballistics tests are now being conducted on the weapons and ammunition. Six persons employed to Superintendent Daley were detained in connection with the gun and ammunition find. Two of them were released Sunday, while the others remain in custody. |