Police inspector said among several suspects in car-stealing ring
March 19, 2008
A police inspector is among several cops who are under suspicion of involvement in a car-stealing ring, which was uncovered last week with the arrest of a cigarette vendor in Half-Way-Tree, and the seizure of nine motor vehicles.
The stolen cars, the police said, were being stored at a premises in Mona Commons in St Andrew and rented to unsuspecting students of the nearby University of the West Indies and the University of Technology.
"We suspect that some police officers, including an inspector may also be involved in the racket," a highly-placed police source told the Observer yesterday.
The source added that the accused vendor was transferred from a lock-up in St Andrew to another station to secure his safety.
The police were, however, tightlipped about the details of the case, saying only that they apprehended the vendor at his stall in Half-Way-Tree after intense surveillance on the car-stealing ring.
He was then taken to Mona Commons and the vehicles, which included a Toyota Corolla, Toyota Probox and a Nissan Sunny, were discovered. One of the vehicles, the police said, had registration papers cloned from a similar vehicle.
The common-law wife of the accused vendor was also arrested at the premises, the source said.
Members of the police's Organised Crime Division has since joined the Flying Squad in the probe and forensic investigations were being carried out on the vehicles.
This recent incident comes merely a week after Police Commissioner Hardley Lewin announced a clamp-down on corrupt police officers in the constabulary.
Since the start of the year nearly 10 officers have been arrested on corruption charges, the latest being a detective sergeant in Ocho Rios.
Author: Obsrever Reporter
Source: Jamaica Observer
