Two police constables were freed of charges in relation to breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act when they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court today (November 09, 2015).

They are 26-year-old Constable Greg Drummond and 32-Year-Old Constable Dean Thomas, who are attached to the Hunt’s Bay Police Station.

Evidence was given at the trial that on September 10, 2013 the constables stopped a businesswoman and tried to solicit money from her so as not to prosecute her for having uncustomed cigarette’s in her possession.

The complainant called a policeman, who came on the scene and they all went to the Half-Way-Tree Police Station.

The matter was investigated by a senior police officer and the two constables were charged.

The constables, in their defence, denied that they tried to solicit money from the businesswoman, for her not to be prosecuted.

They said there was a language barrier and that the businesswoman, who is a Chinese national, did not quite understand the English language.

The constables said they were gesticulating to the businesswoman that she would be prosecuted and that she would have to pay a fine when she goes to court.

Resident Magistrate Grace Henry-Mckenzie stated that following cross-examination of the complainant by defence attorney, Peter Champagnie, she was left in a state of doubt.

R.M. Henry-Mckenzie said in all the circumstances, she could not be sure that the policemen were guilty of the offence, so she freed them of the charges.