Jamaica Opposition MP Freed Of Corruption Charges

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Former government minister, Daryl Vaz was freed of corruption charges on Monday, after the

Former government minister, Daryl Vaz

prosecution offered no further evidence against him.

Prosecutors had alleged that in 2012, Vaz, the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) legislator, had met with a police officer in a parking lot and promised him gold bars for not pursuing charges against businessman, Bruce Bicknell, who was arrested and charged by the officer for allegedly offering him a bribe when he was stopped for speeding.

Bicknell, who was jointly charged with Vaz, and former Senior Superintendent of Police, James Forbes, with breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, was freed of all charges.
Forbes was convicted and fined.

But Vaz pleaded not guilty and the witness, Sergeant Jubert Llewellyn, said he couldn’t recall everything and would not be able to assist the prosecution.