The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was fined $1,500 after admitting that he offered two police officers $70 to overlook traffic offences on East Street South last week.

Terrance Wright, 27, was driving a white Ford Taurus without a valid driver’s licence or third-party risk insurance at about 2.30pm on July 23.

After police stopped him, Wright offered Police Constable 4233 Smith and Woman Police Constable 536 Bain $70 to avoid being cited for the offences. He also offered to go to a bank to obtain more money to avoid being taken into custody.

Wright pleaded guilty before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr to two counts of bribery, driving without a valid driver’s licence and driving without third-party risk insurance.

He apologised and said he had made a mistake.

Magistrate Allen described the offences as serious and said Wright had attempted to undermine police officers through bribery, conduct the court could not condone.

Although Wright claimed a previous causing harm charge had been dropped, prosecutor Sergeant 3004 Forbes said he had paid a fine for that offence.

Wright was fined $1,500 or faced 60 days in prison.