Lawyer insists bomb threat suspect is innocent

A preliminary report from the Communication Forensic and Cybercrime Division (CFCD) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has attributed the cell number belonging to businessman Michael Glenford, as contacting the police about a bomb threat at the St Catherine Parish Court last Friday.

However, attorney-at-law Damion Heslop is adamant that his client, who has since been charged with creating public mischief, is not part of a scheme to cause mayhem.

"There is an allegation that he made a call to the police services branch about a bomb being at the Spanish Town Police Station but that has not been confirmed. There is nothing scientific, there is no evidence, there is no technology at this stage that places or puts Mr Glenford in that position to be that person," the lawyer submitted.

He stated further that Glenford attended the St Catherine Parish Court's office to file a complaint related to fraud.

"He is in a partner, paid the monies and he wasn't getting it, so he was in the vicinity of the courthouse to make a claim against somebody," Heslop explained, sharing his client's alibi at the time of the bomb threat.

A series of bomb threats disrupted operations at more that 70 institutions, mostly schools, last week. On Monday, a bomb threat disrupted operations at Kingston Wharves.

The prosecutor, referring to Glenford, said, "The number from which the call came was recorded and that number, through the CFCD, was attributed to this man."

But Heslop impressed upon Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque that his client did not place the phone call and is not a mischief maker.

"He is a business owner, he has a permanent place of residence. He has never been in trouble with the law, he did not go to the courthouse for a criminal matter, he went for a civil matter. So he had no motive," Heslop argued.

The prosecutor responded that the police's investigations are ongoing and the case file was incomplete.

"To prevent certain things from happening, and perhaps a repeat of what is being alleged here Your Honour, I submit that he is not a fit candidate for bail at this time," the prosecutor said.

The matter was adjourned until November 16 for a bail application to be heard. Glenford was remanded in custody until then.

- T.T.