Shooting victim tries bribing cop to drop case

A gun attack victim pleaded guilty to attempted bribery and attempting to pervert the course of justice after he tried to have investigators drop the case against his attacker.

A 10-minute conversation between the investigator and Kevardo Mattis was shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday. Mattis is heard telling the policeman that he did not wish to pursue the matter, which is being tried in the Home Circuit Court. Police indicated that on January 18 at 12:05 a.m., explosions were heard coming from Little Copa Club located in Eight Miles, Bull Bay, St Andrew. Mattis was shot and injured and taken to the Kingston Public Hospital for treatment. Days later, Mattis went on record to identify his attacker. However, the investigator later received a phone call from Mattis telling him that he did not wish to continue with the matter and intended to tell the court that it was a mistake.

"Me and the man a come from far. Really and truly him nuh have hand ina it 'cause if tings fi go down a certain way, it ago cost him people dem life," Mattis said. The 29-year-old then allegedly indicated that a relative had cash that would be shared between a lawyer and the cop.

"Dem ago give mi lawyer $400,000 an' to how me see it caah work widdout you needs, yuh zeet. Somebody gi me bredda the money an' him a gwan hold on pon it," Mattis could be heard saying. But the cop urged Mattis to attend court and tell the judge his concerns.

Shane Williams, Mattis' attorney, indicated to Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague that the offer was open for the officer to insert the figure he required.

"I don't take light of these offences. I have never heard of a complainant offering money to end a case, it's the other way around. It's not very smart," the judge opined. She commended the investigating officer for his integrity. She postponed sentencing to allow Mattis time to reflect on his actions.

"We have normalised a lot of things in this country. But we cannot have a corrupt police force, we should not have a corrupted judiciary, we should not have corruption at any level. The effects are too far-reaching, too much is at stake," she said. Mattis was remanded in custody on March 25 and was made the subject of a fingerprint order.