(Jamaica Observer) Assis-tant Commissioner Justin Felice, head of the constabulary’s Anti-Corruption Branch, says he has been the subject of deep resentment from members of the force as well as the public.
“I am resented by a lot of people both inside and outside the force. I am often told that I am breaking down the morale of the force,” Felice said as he addressed the Rotary Club of East Kingston and Port Royal’s dinner at the Morgan’s Harbour Hotel on Monday.
Felice, who now commands a staff of 70, expressed concerns about the high levels of corruption in the force as well as the society, and pleaded with public to refrain from paying bribes.
“There is no sign that corruption is going to end. If the public stops paying, then the cops cannot be corrupt. You have got to stop paying. About 85 per cent of the population of Jamaica is corrupt,” he said, as he pointed to the multi-million dollar lottery scam.
“The lottery scam is an example. Unfortunately the police are involved in it but there are people from the private sector, banks and hotels also involved. People who use their credit cards have their information given to people and then they end up being harassed,” said Felice.
Felice, in the meantime, called on the Government to establish a court to exclusively try cases involving corruption by cops and members of the public.
“We need a Corruption Court. How can you give a case involving a corrupt cop to a clerk of court in St Mary or St Ann, when the cop works there and they know each other? It takes too long for those cases to go through the courts,” he said.
Felice’s Anti-Corruption Branch is responsible for the arrest and charging of about 150 cops who were held in breach of the Anti-Corruption Act in the past two years.
