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Cop facing nine charges in three parishes denied bail in larceny case
PAUL A REID, Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, February 01, 2008
MONTEGO BAY, St James - A policeman who is facing nine criminal charges in three parishes was Wednesday denied bail when a case of larceny against him was called up in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.
The policeman, Maurice Taylor, 27, was not in court Wednesday to answer to the alleged theft of $140,000 from a friend in February 2007, but his attorney, Sharon Barnes, made the bail application in his absence, with the permission of Senior Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry.
Taylor, the court was told, was absent as he was being transported from St Ann where he was denied bail on six counts of corruption and fraud last Friday, arising from a motor vehicle accident in September last year.
He is also on bail in the Falmouth Resident Magistrate's Court on charges of robbery and breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, stemming from an incident in December 2007.
In the case mentioned Wednesday in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, the court heard that the complainant, Rohan Williams, went to a car dealer in Montego Bay last year February to purchase a motor vehicle, but was told he would not be allowed to do so as he did not have a permanent job.
The court heard that the complainant then contacted Taylor, who was then stationed in Falmouth, and asked him to buy the car in his name.
On the way from Falmouth on February 7, the court was told, the men stopped at a bar in Greenwood when the complainant left the money wrapped in a shirt in the space between the front seats.
While they were in the bar, it is alleged that Taylor asked the complainant for the car keys and went to the car then came back.
Later when they were ready to leave, it was heard that the complainant found the front passenger door open and the seat wet as it was raining and also the money was missing.
It was heard that the complainant accused Taylor of taking the money, which the cop denied.
A report was made later that same day and a file sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
While agreeing with Barnes that the evidence was circumstantial, RM Henry commented that Taylor "seems quite unfortunate, it is always sad when a police officer appears before the courts".
She added that while he has not been convicted in any of the cases, the cases seem to be "piling up".
In the St Ann case, Taylor was investigating an accident when he discovered that the insurance for one of the persons involved had expired the previous day and demanded $30,000 not to press charges. It is heard they settled for $8,000.
Later on he is alleged to have called the other person involved in the accident who was driving a car belonging to Cash Plus and told them that he was instructed to collect $86,000.
PAUL A REID, Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, February 01, 2008
MONTEGO BAY, St James - A policeman who is facing nine criminal charges in three parishes was Wednesday denied bail when a case of larceny against him was called up in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.
The policeman, Maurice Taylor, 27, was not in court Wednesday to answer to the alleged theft of $140,000 from a friend in February 2007, but his attorney, Sharon Barnes, made the bail application in his absence, with the permission of Senior Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry.
Taylor, the court was told, was absent as he was being transported from St Ann where he was denied bail on six counts of corruption and fraud last Friday, arising from a motor vehicle accident in September last year.
He is also on bail in the Falmouth Resident Magistrate's Court on charges of robbery and breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, stemming from an incident in December 2007.
In the case mentioned Wednesday in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, the court heard that the complainant, Rohan Williams, went to a car dealer in Montego Bay last year February to purchase a motor vehicle, but was told he would not be allowed to do so as he did not have a permanent job.
The court heard that the complainant then contacted Taylor, who was then stationed in Falmouth, and asked him to buy the car in his name.
On the way from Falmouth on February 7, the court was told, the men stopped at a bar in Greenwood when the complainant left the money wrapped in a shirt in the space between the front seats.
While they were in the bar, it is alleged that Taylor asked the complainant for the car keys and went to the car then came back.
Later when they were ready to leave, it was heard that the complainant found the front passenger door open and the seat wet as it was raining and also the money was missing.
It was heard that the complainant accused Taylor of taking the money, which the cop denied.
A report was made later that same day and a file sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
While agreeing with Barnes that the evidence was circumstantial, RM Henry commented that Taylor "seems quite unfortunate, it is always sad when a police officer appears before the courts".
She added that while he has not been convicted in any of the cases, the cases seem to be "piling up".
In the St Ann case, Taylor was investigating an accident when he discovered that the insurance for one of the persons involved had expired the previous day and demanded $30,000 not to press charges. It is heard they settled for $8,000.
Later on he is alleged to have called the other person involved in the accident who was driving a car belonging to Cash Plus and told them that he was instructed to collect $86,000.
Seem to be he should have been kicked out of the force. Even if the charges are dismissed, something don't look good.
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