By Clinton McGregor
A member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force who was accused of assisting a British drug trafficker to sneak a quantity of ganja through Norman Manley International Airport eight years ago, was freed before the St. Andrew Parish Court on Thursday.
Police Constable Chadwick Bowen was found not guilty of a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice in the January 19, 2015 incident.
The verdict was handed down by Chief Judge of the Parish Courts, Chester Crooks.
Constable Bowen was charged following a ruling by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The prosecution led evidence that while on duty at the airport, Constable Bowen, who was attached to the narcotics division, was informed by the canine police of the presence of drugs in the luggage of a British traveller.
They claimed that Bowen proceeded to open the suitcase, which allegedly contained 11 pounds of ganja.
He, however, allowed the British national to continue on the flight.
But during cross-examination of the prosecution's witnesses by his attorney Peter Champagnie, KC, it was revealed that no one actually witnessed Bowen opening the suitcase, and it was further revealed that police officers have the discretion not to search persons once the answers the person gives to the questions are satisfactory.
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