Cop held in corruption case gets bail
March 27, 2007
A police sergeant attached to the St. James Police Division, who is charged with breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act in relation to a 2006 incident, was granted bail in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.
Forty-eight-year-old Sergeant Vincent Saddler was offered bail in the sum of $250,000 with surety.
He was also instructed to surrender his travel documents and a stop order was imposed at all ports of exit.
Sgt. Saddler, who has served the Jamaica Constabulary Force for the past 27 years, was charged on the advice of a ruling made by the Director of Public Prosecutions earlier this month.
The Crown is alleging that on July 28 last year, the sergeant and four other policemen - all in civilian clothing - went to the home of the complainant in Catherine Mount, Montego Bay, where he resides with his wife.
It is alleged that one of the policemen approached the com-plainant with a paper stating that he had a warrant to search the house. It is said that the policemen subsequently went to the couple's bedroom and proceeded to search the area without giving any reasons.
Asking for 'big money'
Further allegations are that Sgt. Saddler took the wife to another room and asked for "the big money", as he had heard that they were involved in illegal gambling. The woman however said she had no money and they proceeded back to her bedroom where he again asked her about money.
She was later shown lottery tickets and $9,000 that were allegedly found in a drawer in the room. The policemen also took the keys for a Toyota Levin motor car that they believed to have been stolen.
The court also heard that the complainant was taken to the station where he was given back the $9,000 after being interviewed by other police personnel....
Author: Tashieka Mair
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
