Nine Police Officers Charged With Corruption In Vybz Kartel Case

Nine police officers finds themselves in hot water with the hierarchy of the force after they were accused of violating prison regulations by accepting money and other gifts to give special privileges to dancehall star Vybz Kartel, as well as another high-profile inmate at the Gun Court Remand Centre in St Andrew.

According to information coming out of the force, the officers in question are slapped with corruption charges and could face dismissal from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) for their actions.

This comes at the end of a probe conducted by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the JCF, which recommended that disciplinary action be brought against them.

Head of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Felice, said the ACB recommends disciplinary action against the cops after it wraps up a probe into the allegation earlier this month.

According to Felice, all the evidence has already been sent to Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington and plans are being put in place to start the disciplinary process “as soon as possible”.

“He (Ellington) will in turn send it (the evidence) to a disciplinary hearing and then, hopefully, we will be making timely decisions as to whether these individuals are suitable to remain within the Jamaica Constabulary Force,” Felice said.

Felice also confirmed previous reports that the police have in their possession video recordings and other evidence to show that a “full range of corruption” was taking place at the Gun Court Remand Centre off South Camp Road.

“All sorts of things were taking place there in relation to visits. People were being taken outside of the lock-up, people were being given mobile phones and money was passing hands for favours,” Felice revealed.

According to official police report, another high profile inmate was taken outside the lock-up, while Vybz Kartel was given special privileges such as allowing visitors in a restricted area and allowing the use of a mobile phone.

Nine police officers were transferred from the Remand Centre following the allegations late last year.