A 36-YEAR-OLD police corporal, Sonia Wilson, who is attached to the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) and is stationed at the Golden Grove station in St. Thomas, is facing charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice.She appeared in the Morant Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday and was offered bail in the sum of $100,000 with one or two sureties. She has been asked to surrender her travel documents.
Miss Wilson and a 44-year-old St. Thomas woman, Joan Robinson, have been charged jointly. Ms. Robinson also appeared in court and was offered bail in the sum of $80,000.
The Constabulary Commu-nication Network (CCN) reported that Corporal Wilson arrested a man for rape then, allegedly, demanded money from the accused's relatives to distort the trial. It is alleged that the mother of the 13-year-old girl who was raped demanded $40,000 from the accused person. The figure was allegedly reduced by the special corporal to $25,000. Allegations are that the policewoman arranged for $10,000 to be paid immediately and the rest paid at a later date.
The matter was reported to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and both women were arrested and charged. They are scheduled to return to court on January 8, 2003.
Meanwhile as Police Commissioner Francis Forbes tackles the problem of corruption within the force, he has dismissed more than 200 policemen and women over the past seven years.
According to Assistant Commissioner Charles Scarlett, 33 of these persons were sacked last year. The previous year 29 were dismissed, 42 in 1999, 57 in 1998, 54 in 1997 and 11 in 1996.
"They were dismissed for various reasons including judiciary conviction, court of enquiry, desertion and those deemed not likely to be re-enlisted," said Mr. Scarlett.
