Cops face court for kidnapping

Two members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force who are accused of abducting a female last month were offered $500,000 bail with a surety when they appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.

Odane Douglas and Jermaine Wood are charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, kidnapping and forcible abduction. It is alleged that the complainant, who is in a relationship with Douglas, left her home on July 22, about 8 p.m., to stay with a friend with whom she had planned a beach trip in Portland for the following day. The report further alleges that Douglas called her and asked her where she was. The complainant allegedly shared her location with Douglas, who then informed her that he was coming to see her to verify her story. Douglas, who is assigned to the Marine Division, and Wood, a district constable, drove a marked service vehicle to the complainant's location. Douglas allegedly forced the complainant into the vehicle and assaulted her all over her body before squeezing her neck.

The complainant also reported that Douglas threatened her, using the words "Mi ago kill yuh".

In a bail application on Tuesday before Parish Judge Carlo Mason, the Crown indicated that they are not opposed to bail.

"Mr Wood is 40 years old, a father of two children, and is a serving member of the constabulary for the past 10 years. Mr Douglas is 32 years old, has one child, and has been in the constabulary for the past 13 years," said attorney-at-law Courtney Rowe Rowe, who is representing the cops.

Judge Mason, in granting bail, warned the men not to have contact or communication with the complainant or any other Crown witness.

"No Snapchat, no Instagram, no WhatsApp, no Twitch. No communication whatsoever, whether directly or indirectly. There will be dire consequences, and I will quote my father, 'if you do not hear, you will feel'," the judge said.

Douglas and Wood are to report to the police three times weekly and are to surrender their travel documents. A stop order was also imposed at the island's ports. They were also made the subjects of a fingerprint order. The matter was adjourned until September 29.

- T.T.