Appeal court reserves judgment in 'Bungles' case

Barbara Gayle, Justice Coordinator

The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in the application brought by former police superintendent Harry ‘Bungles’ Daley who is appealing his 2008 conviction and sentencing.

The court has indicated it will hand down its ruling on February 28.

Daley, who is out on bail, was convicted of extortion in 2009 under the Corruption Prevention Act and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.

His lawyers had argued that Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey erred at the trial by allowing prejudicial and inadmissible evidence.

The lawyers also argued that there were many discrepancies and inconsistencies in the Crown's case.

Daley was held during a sting operation on Arnold Road, Kingston, on July 31, 2008, while collecting $15,000 in marked notes from businessman Tafari Clarke.

The Crown had led evidence that the former senior superintendent used his authority to bully Clarke into paying him $20,000 monthly, as protection money for a plaza in Ewarton St Catherine.

However, Daley claimed that the funds he collected were for a loan owed to him by Clarke's father.

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