ONE of the police officers charged in connection to the February multi-million-dollar robbery in Hellshire, St Catherine was granted bail when he appeared in the Home Circuit Court yesterday.
The accused, Constable Raulston Parchment, was offered $500,000 bail following a successful bail application by his attorney Peter Champagnie. A curfew order was also imposed as part of his bail condition.
During the application, the attorney argued that the witness displayed some sign of uncertainty during the identification parade. Champagnie argued further that Parchment gave a full account of his whereabouts during the alleged robbery.
Days after the robbery, Constable Parchment and Constable Renique Pearson were arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearm, assault at common law and robbery with aggravation after they were pointed out in an identification parade in connection with the same robbery.
Pearson, who is represented by attorney Kimani Brydson, was denied bail.
The victims reported on February 21 that they were robbed on the 17th and on 20th of February of $17 million worth of jewellery, US$5,500 in cash, and other items.
The two senior citizens who returned to Jamaica three years ago, after living in the United States for more than 40 years, were visiting relatives in Florida, United States, when a neighbour who went to water their plants noticed things amiss and informed them of the break-in at their house. The neighbour also reported the matter to the police.
The couple, who requested anonymity, had planned to travel from Florida to New York, but cancelled that trip and returned to Jamaica the day after they were informed about the break-in.
They again reported the matter at the Hellshire Police Station on February 20 but things only got worse.
The elderly woman told the Jamaica Observer last month that when she was summoned to her door by men dressed in police uniform on the night of February 20, and she thought they had come to take additional statements.
However, the couple was allegedly robbed instead.
According to the woman, $17 million worth of jewellery, receipts for some of the jewellery, US$5,500, bank statements, among other things were stolen in the two robberies.
— Racquel Porter
A wah day yah somebody a cuss mi on yah seh police a Jamaica can be trusted.. di whole a dem a thief