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Attorney-at-law Oswest Senior-Smith
By Kimone Witter
Two police officers assigned to the St. Ann Police Division have been freed of corruption charges.
District Constable Petrina McDonald from the Brown's Town station was charged with misconduct in a public office and breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act.
In a separate matter, Constable Hugh Smith, of the Runaway Bay Police Station, was charged with misconduct in a public office after he was accused of solicitation.
Constable Smith was admonished and discharged when he appeared before the St. Ann Parish Court on October 24.
Attorney-at-law Oswest Senior-Smith, who represented District Constable McDonald, told Radio Jamaica News that her matter was withdrawn on Tuesday due to insufficient evidence.
"The investigating officer submitted a statement, or popularly called an input statement, in the court indicating that the virtual complainant, so-called, has decided that she was no longer interested in pursuing the matter, and as a result the case was withdrawn against my client."
But the attorney said the result raised questions, including why the police had not done a thorough investigation of the matter before it went to court.
Investigators had alleged that between June 27 and July 4, 2020, District Constable McDonald solicited $100,000 from the mother of a man who was arrested and charged with wounding.
She had allegedly promised the mother that she would release her son.
But when she failed to deliver on her promise, the mother reported the matter to the Police High Command which launched an investigation.
Prosecutors had alleged that the District Constable returned $20,000 to the mother.
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