The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO policemen, a Constable and a reservist, found themselves before the courts yesterday where they were respectively charged with causing grievous harm and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

Constable Alcott Forbes, 22, of Tropical Meadows appeared first before Court no.11 Magistrate Saboula Swain facing a charge of causing grevious harm.

It is alleged that he, along with 22-year-old Richard Bain of Yellow Elder, between November 16 and 17 of 2012, caused grevious harm to Orlando McPhee.

Both men elected to be tried in Magistrates Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution had no objection to bail and the magistrate asked for the condition of the virtual complainant.

The police prosecutor answered that the complainant had suffered a swollen eye, head and facial fractures.

“He’s in serious condition?” the magistrate asked. The prosecutor said yes.

However, Bain’s attorney, Shaka Serville, said that the prosecutor’s information runs to contrary to what he has learned about the complainants, who he said is not hospitalized.

Forbes’ attorney, Joulica Thompson, agreed.

The prosecutor did admit that the complainant was no longer hospitalised.

The magistrate granted both men bail, $6,000 each with a surety and a warning to stay away from the complainant and prosecution witnesses in the case.

There trial date is listed for April 11.

Officer Forbes was not alone in court as the executive team of the Police Staff Association were offering him words of encouragement.

Meanwhile, in the following arraignment, 26-year-old Germaine Ferguson of Infant View Road was arraigned on unlawful sexual intercourse.

It is claimed that the reservist, between December 2012 and January 8, 2013, had sex with a 15-year-old girl.

He was not required to enter a plea to the charge and was told that his trial date was also set for April 11.

There was no objection to bail and he was granted a bond of $7,500.

The mother of the 15-year-old was arraigned next before the magistrate on a charge of failing report the abuse of a minor.

It is claimed she knew of the abuse but failed to report it to the police.

However, the 35-year-old mother pleaded not guilty to the charge that has been brought against her by the girl’s father.

The mother was granted $6,000 bail and was told that her daughter would become a ward of the court until the end of the proceedings.

The trial is set for April 11.

Ferguson is represented by attorney Calvin Seymour.