Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Wales Magistrate’s Court on Thursday remanded a policeman to prison for perjury.
Giving testimony in a narcotics case, Detective Constable Kester Albert got himself into a bind after in his evidence-in-chief he said one thing and then when questioned by the magistrate he said another. Following that the magistrate informed him that he had just committed perjury and pointed out the inconsistencies to him. She then committed him to prison for seven days for the offence.
Later in the day, however, a senior officer pleaded on his behalf and requested that Albert be sent to the TSU, Eve Leary instead as he said that Albert would be hassled by the prisoners at the prison. The magistrate agreed to the request.
Earlier this year, another policeman, Constable Forde, was also caught lying by the magistrate and remanded. However, after strenuous pleas on his behalf by the prosecutor, a senior officer and an attorney, the order was rescinded with the undertaking that disciplinary action be taken against him.
