Investigators in cop’s extortion case fail to attend court

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James policeman, who is facing extortion charges before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, had his case set for mention on Monday, October 27, after the investigators in the case failed to appear in court yesterday.

Constable Gregory Dixon, who was arrested last August for allegedly attempting to solicit $15,000 from a man, had his bail extended following a ruling by presiding magistrate Carolyn Tie that the investigators should be contacted and advised to attend court on Monday.

The allegations are that on August 3, 2013, Dixon, who had been on suspension since 2012 for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, attempted to solicit $15,000 from a young man who had just left a remittance agency in Montego Bay, St James. When the demand was not met, Dixon allegedly threatened to take the man into custody.

After a second attempt by Dixon, the man reportedly paid over $10,000, then reported the matter to the police Anti-Corruption Branch. An investigation was launched and a file submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which ruled that Dixon should be charged with extortion.

Yesterday, clerk of the court Paula-Sue Ferguson told RM Tie that one of the two officers in Dixon's matter was absent due to illness, and the other officer was out of the jurisdiction.

OFFICER SICK

"One of the officers indicated that he is ill and is to do an X-ray, and the other officer is in the Circuit Court in Westmoreland," said Ferguson.

The court was also told that the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) had requested a report from the police concerning Dixon's personal firearm, which had been confiscated at the time of his arrest.

"The FLA contacted the officers and informed them that a report was to be made. The FLA wants the report and the firearm," said Ferguson.

"I wonder if we could get some documentation from the FLA?" asked attorney-at-law Morrel Beckford, who is representing Dixon.

"Well, we need to get these persons (officers) here ... the police liaison officer is to warn the investigating officer to attend," RM Tie replied, before extending Dixon's bail to October 27.