Updated | Ex-cops and police constable accused of using fake drug case to solicit money from Trelawny woman granted bail

Three former police officers and a serving member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, accused of soliciting money and using a fake document to deceive a Trelawny woman that she was being investigated for drug trafficking, were each today offered $2 million bail.

The defendants were charged on Tuesday with facilitating the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation, forgery, uttering forged documents, and perverting the course of justice.

They were granted bail by Justice Leighton Pusey in the Home Circuit Court.

The accused are James Dawes, a former detective sergeant; former Detective Corporal Tamela Anderson; former Detective Constable Shane Givans; and Constable Lakarie Barrett.

All were attached to the police’s Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division.

Except for Barrett, the other accused have since resigned from the force.

As part of their bail conditions, the defendants are prohibited from being seen in Trelawny and must report to the police three times per week.

Stop orders have also been imposed and they were ordered to surrender all travel documents.

Attorneys-at-law Chadwick Berry and Christopher Townsend are representing the accused, who are scheduled to return to court on May 21.

According to allegations, in 2023, the four officers approached the complaint with a document claiming that she was suspected of drug trafficking and she was taken into custody and detained.

Shortly afterward, the complainant’s mother alleged she received a call from a policeman who stated that her daughter would be released if money was paid.

The complainant was later released without being charged.

It is being alleged that the document presented to the woman regarding the drug trafficking case was fake.

A subsequent complaint was made to the police’s Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau, which launched an investigation.

It was reportedly discovered that the four accused had prepared the forged document used to release the woman from custody.

- Tanesha Mundle

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.