Police sick out force postponement of El-Faisal extradition hearing

The continued sickout by rank and file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has caused a postponement of the extradition hearing for controversial Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdullah el-Faisal.

The hearing was scheduled to start today in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, however, el-Faisal was not brought to court as only a handful of police personnel showed up for duties.

The hearing has been put off until January 4 next year.

El-Faisal is wanted in the United States on terrorism-related charges.

In August, the controversial cleric was arrested on a provisional warrant under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty after he was accused by US authorities of engaging in terrorism-related activities.

US authorities say they have evidence that el-Faisal used various social media websites to recruit persons around the world, including undercover police officers in New York, to join the militant group ISIS.