Jamaican Dr. Jephthah Ford sentenced 6 months

A well-known Jamaican medical practitioner, and former political candidate for the People’s National party (PNP), Dr. Jephthah Ford, who was found guilty of corruption earlier this year, was sentenced to six months in prison when he appeared in a Corporate Area court on Thursday.

Bribed policeman

In August, Dr. Jephthah Ford was charged with trying to bribe a policeman who had arrested two men from Suriname who were found with over J$60-million in 2014. The money was seized by the police.

According to the police evidence, Ford offered the policeman 40 percent of the money if the men were released, and the balance of the funds returned.

During the trial in August, the prosecutor, Joel Brown, led evidence that Ford was caught on camera as he was in the process of trying to bribe the policeman.

The Surinamese nationals - Roshen Daniels and Murvin Reingoul were later charged with possession of criminal property and conspiracy to possess criminal property, but they were freed of the charges when they appeared in court.

Attorney begged judge

In court on Thursday, Ford’s attorney begged the judge not to send his client to prison and to consider his years of service to the community in the medical field.

Ford has, however, been offered bail in the sum of J$1 million, pending his appeal.

Meanwhile, the medical doctor was told to report to the Constant Spring police station in the Corporate Area, each Wednesday of every week.

For more on Dr. Jepthah Ford, visit the link: Jamaican medical practitioner found guilty of crime