KINGSTON: A Customs Officer assigned to the Norman Manley International Airport was sentenced to eight months in prison at hard labour for two counts of breaching of the Corruption Prevention Act here the other day.
Michael Shaw was sentenced when he appeared in the Corporate Area Criminal Court.
Reports are that on February 24, 2014, Shaw, while on duty at the airport encountered an arriving passenger with cash exceeding the amount allowed for entry into the country.
It is said that he confiscated US$16,000 and reported the matter to his supervisor. The supervisor in turn interviewed the passenger and it was revealed that the funds were legally obtained.
Shaw was reportedly instructed by his supervisor to return the money, which he did.
Following this, he solicited and received US$2000 from the passenger. A report was made to the then Anti-Corruption Branch and an investigation launched. Subsequently, a file was prepared and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution who ruled that he be charged.
His eight months sentence at hard labour will run concurrently.
In the meantime, Shaw’s defence team has indicated their intention to appeal both conviction and sentencing, hence he was granted bail in the sum of $400,000 and a stop order placed on him.
