Jamaica: Police sergeant fined $300,000 for breach of INDECOM Act
Police sergeant Gilbert Smith was on Monday has been fined $300,000 or three months imprisonment for failing to state the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) concerning a case of assault.
Smith was found guilty in March for breaching Section 33 of The Independent Commission of Investigations Act, 2010.
According to the investigative oversight body, the judge found that the repeated failure by Smith, as someone in a supervisory position, to provide the statement requested by INDECOM sent a “bad message to squaddies below his rank”.
Parish judge Dale Staple imposed sentencing in the Clarendon Parish Court.
According to INDECOM, in passing sentencing, Staple outlined that “deterrence, punishment, protection of society, probity, transparency and cooperation of the membership of the police force is vital to the process [of oversight]. The conduct of members of the force can stand up to scrutiny”.
Staple reportedly added that there was the need to send a strong message that INDECOM's notices are to be complied with; it is not an option; the non-compliance not be tolerated.
Outlined in court that three requests were made of Smith to furnish a statement to the commission concerning an investigation of an incident of assault on September 16, 2016.
He was subsequently charged for failing to comply with a lawful requirement from the commission without lawful justification or excuse.
INDECOM says Smith's lawyer gave verbal notice of his intention to appeal the ruling.
Smith failed to provide a statement.
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