THE two police officers who were pointed out in an identification parade in connection with last week’s robbery in Hellshire, St Catherine, are scheduled to appear in the St Catherine Parish Court next week.

The Jamaica Observer was told yesterday that the officers, Raulston Parchment and Renique Pearson, have so far been charged with illegal possession of firearm and assault at common law. Charges of robbery with aggravation are also expected to be laid against them.

The two are expected to be brought before the court on March 5.

The victims reported last week that they were robbed twice last week of $17 million worth of jewellery, US$5,500 in cash, and other items.

The two are senior citizens who returned to Jamaica three years ago after living in the United States for more than 40 years. They had been visiting relatives in Florida, United States, when a neighbour who went to water their plants noticed things amiss and informed them of the break-in at their house last week Monday. The neighbour also reported the matter to the police.

The couple, who requested anonymity, had planned to travel from Florida to New York, but cancelled that trip and returned to Jamaica last week Tuesday.

They again reported the matter at the Hellshire Police Station last week Wednesday, but things only got worse.

The elderly woman told the Observer last week Thursday that when she was summoned to her door by men dressed in police uniform on Wednesday night, she thought they had come to take additional statements.

However, the couple was robbed instead.

According to the woman, $17 million worth of jewellery, receipts for some of the jewellery, US$5,500, bank statements, among other things were stolen between Sunday and last week Wednesday night.

She said that the jewellery stolen the Sunday night was valued at $7 million.

“They emptied a drawer, everything — watches, rings, jewellery sets — then they came back for the other bag that I had secured,” she said last week.

A source told the Observer on Monday that one of the policemen, who is alleged to have participated in the robbery, submitted his resignation letter last week Saturday and has since left the island.