The Old Harbour police have taken four male students from a school in that town into custody after they were accused of extorting money from female students who they threatened to fondle if they did not pay, THE STAR understands.

The boys were taken into custody yesterday after they were reported for 'taxing' female students up to $1,000 per day in order for them to attend classes and not be sexually harassed. It is reported that in one case a female student has paid close to $100,000 since September last year in order to attend classes.

No stone unturned

The Old Harbour police confirmed that four 15-year-old male students of the school who were reported to be involved in the taking set on the students were taken into custody.

When contacted, Deputy Superintendent of Police Duetress Foster Gardener, who is in charge of the Old Harbour police, said that the police would be leaving no stone unturned in stamping out the practice. She said this behaviour would be thoroughly investigated with a view to prosecute the guilty culprits. She added that students who suffer similar fate should come to the Old Harbour Police Station and report the matter.

In recent times, several schools in St. Catherine have been touted as a training centre for the criminal gangs operating in the old capital, Spanish Town.

In a recent interview with head of St. Catherine North police Superintendent Harry Daley, he promised to step up operations to rid the parish of this scourge of criminal behaviour.