JAMAICA: POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, CHARGED WITH EXTORTION AND

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000707 SIPDIS, SENSITIVE STATE FOR WHA/CAR - ANDRE CADIEUX WHA/PPC - SCOTT MILLER INL/LP - NATALIA BOZZOLO INL/GTIP - BARBARA FLECK TREASURY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (ERIN NEPHEW) JUSTICE FOR ROBERT LIPMAN SANTO DOMINGO FOR LEGAT DENNIS PIERCE USAID for DAA/LAC TCORNICK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SENV PHUM SOCI AID ASEC KCOR KCRM JM XL SUBJECT: JAMAICA: POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, CHARGED WITH EXTORTION AND CORRUPTION, IS GRANTED BAIL REF: (A) KINGSTON 702 (041909Z AUG 08) (B) 07 KINGSTON 1681 (192007Z NOV 07)(NOTAL) (C) 07 KINGSTON 1813 (311840Z DEC 07)(NOTAL) (D) 07 KINGSTON 1462 (251614Z SEP 07)(NOTAL) 1.(U) The Half-Way-Tree Magistrate's Court has granted bail to senior Superintendent of Police Harry George "Bungles" Daley, who faces multiple charges of extortion and breaches of the Anti-Corruption Act following his arrest in a covert "sting" operation conducted by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)'s Anti-Corruption Branch, with support from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and technical assistance from the Mission's DHS/ICE Attach, on July 31 (ref A). Allegedly, Daley extorted money from businesses in Spanish Town, and reportedly was caught on film accepting marked cash. His bail payment was set at one million Jamaican dollars (only USD 13,888.). Background: "Bungles" finally bungles -------------- 2.(SBU) Daley is a street policeman who worked his way up through the ranks, earning a reputation for ruthlessness in such troubled areas as west Kingston, Spanish Town, and St. Catherine. Well connected and wealthy, he owns numerous business and residential properties and allegedly has close ties to Jamaican criminal leaders (dons) of the "One Order" and "Clansman" gangs. Known in some quarters as Jamaica's "Don of Dons," Daley is rumored to have arranged contract murders, and had been considered by many to be "untouchable." He is strongly suspected by Post, the local U.K. and Canadian High Commissions, and Jamaican authorities of involvement in both drug and human trafficking. High level members of the Jamaican government and the JDF had feared the outbreak of civil unrest in Spanish Town when news of his arrest spread; however, thus far this has not occurred. Concerns for the safety of JCF and JDF members involved in the "sting" operation are quite serious. Analysis: a much-needed step -------------- 3.(SBU) Daley is believed to be the highest ranking Jamaican police officer ever arrested. His eventual conviction would fulfill one of the key recommendations outlined for Prime Minister Golding in a USAID-sponsored assessment of the impact of Corruption in Jamaica on July 29 (ref A): that a "big fish" should be taken down to demonstrate the seriousness of the Government's anti-corruption campaign (refs B, C, D). This also would send a salutary signal to other powerful and well-connected Jamaicans, and would bolster the Government's anti-crime, anti-corruption, and anti-human trafficking credentials in the eyes of ordinary citizens. That the court set bail at only USD 13,888 highlights the weakness of the judicial system and how far the Government has to go in reforming it. JOHNSON