Taxi man says extortionists threatening his life

A taxi man said that he is now in fear of his life, after he was allegedly threatened by extortionists not to proceed with criminal proceedings at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

The taxi man, who does the job part-time, shared his fears before parish judge Carlo Mason on Tuesday.

"He has been receiving threats from men by [name of area] not to come to court or else," the prosecutor related to the judge. The taxi man is a complainant against the accused John Dunn, who is before the court on charges of extortion and robbery with violence. Dunn is alleged to have approached the complainant while he was parked at the gas station along North Odeon Avenue in St Andrew and told him that he has to pay 'ground fee'. Further allegations detailed that Dunn robbed the complainant of $50,000.

"You work with KSAC [Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation]?", Mason quizzed the accused.

"At no point are you to interact with him. At no point are you to send anyone to interact with him on your behalf. Make no mistake, if I hear of it, you are one and done, I will remand you," the judge said sternly.

Mason also made it a condition of Dunn's bail that he is not to interfere with the complainant direct or indirectly.

The judge also advised the complainant to make a report of the threats he received to the nearest police station.

Dunn, who is on bail, is to return to court on March 22, 2024.

- T.T.