Cop, ex-cop charged in St Thomas robbery and abduction

The policeman who was arrested last week in connection with an abduction and $2.1 million robbery in St Thomas has been charged with several corruption-related offences, officials have confirmed.

Constable Raniel McGregor and his co-accused, ex-cop Lonnie Pearcy, made their first court appearance today where more details of their alleged crime were disclosed.

McGregor is charged with robbery and breaches of the Corruption (Prevention) Act. Pearcy was charged on Tuesday with kidnapping, use of a firearm to commit a felony, robbery with aggravation, assault at common law and breaches of the Corruption (Prevention) Act.

Both men were each granted bail in the sum of $2 million when they appeared before a judge at the St Thomas Parish Court.

Stop orders have been placed on them at the ports and they were both ordered to report to the police every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Prosecutors alleged in court that Pearcy and McGregor were among three men who “corruptly solicited” $5 million and “corruptly accepted” $2 million from a St Thomas man “as a promise to omit to do an act in the performance of his public function”.

Investigators believe the victim of the $2 million robbery was set up by a close friend who he told he had collected a large sum of money.

However, Donnovan Collins, the attorney representing Pearcy, has indicated that there is surveillance footage which “clearly showed” his client at work in St Mary “at a time that would make it impossible for him to be in St Thomas committing the alleged offence”.

McGregor is represented by attorney Ricardo Gray.

Both accused are scheduled to return to court on June 14.

- Livern Barrett

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