Customs officer acquitted of corruption charges
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A customs officer who was convicted of corruption in 2015 was acquitted last week.
Michael Shaw was 29 at the time he was convicted of Breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act in the then Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.
It was alleged that in February 2014 a Jamaican-born US citizen failed to declare that he had US$16,000 which is over the prescribed limit of US$10,000 when he entered the island from New York.
The money was seized.
The man was subsequently taken to an office at the Norman Manley International Airport where he was questioned by Shaw’s supervisor.
It was reported that instructions were given for the money to be returned to him after he was released.
However it was reported that Shaw solicited US$1, 400 but accepted US$2,000 from the man.
The matter was reported to the then Anti-Corruption Branch and an investigation launched.
Following the intervention of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Shaw was arrested and charged.