Subpoena issued for SSP Radcliffe Lewis

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:The Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court has issued a subpoena for Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Radcliffe Lewis, due to his failure to provide a statement to the investigating officer in an ongoing bribery case.

Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tai issued the subpoena on Tuesday, when the defendant in the case, Teddy Parchment, appeared before the court. She also extended Parchment's bail until June 12, when Lewis is expected to appear before the court.

Parchment, who is of a Glendevon address in Montego Bay, is charged with bribery of a policeman stemming from an incident on December 6, 2012, when he allegedly offered $10,000 to a member of Lewis's police traffic operation team in exchange for not prosecuting him for having expired car documents.

On Tuesday, clerk of the court Natalie Malcolm told RM Tai that SSP Lewis' statement has still not been added to the prosecution's case file since the case was last mentioned on April 17.

STATEMENT OUTSTANDING

"The position remains the same (since the last court date). SSP Lewis has not given the investigating officer the statement. I don't know if you are minded to issue a subpoena for him," said Malcolm.

"I'm issuing a subpoena for the officer, and I will set this matter for June. Would June 12 be convenient?" RM Tai asked Parchment's lawyer, Tamika Spencer.

"Very well, Your Honour," said Spencer, after consulting her diary.

"Sir, you are to return here on June 12. Your bail is extended," RM Tai told Parchment.