A St. Catherine court was yesterday told that a woman who did not want to be in a relationship with a man reportedly paid him more than $1 million to get him to end his pursuit.

The man, Kevin Thompson of Newlands, St. Catherine, was remanded on extortion charges for allegedly collecting money from a woman who did not want to take their friendship to a 'higher level'. The accused appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court.

Investigating officer, Anita West-Grant, told the court that the accused was first given money in March.

Constant pressure

The court was told that the complainant, who is still in her 20s, operates a business in the community. She is said to have been befriended by Thompson.

It is said in March he told her that he wanted to take the friendship to another level but she refused. After constant pressure from the determined Thompson, it is alleged that the female told him that she would pay $100,000 if he would leave her alone.

But even after allegedly paying that sum to the accused, it is reported that he still insisted on a relationship, or more money. It is said the accused even went further to make threats that he would make someone do harm to the complainant if she didn't comply.

Stricken with fear, the court learnt that the woman eventually paid a sum of approximately $1,074,000.

The Resident Magistrate, having heard the details, enquired from the complainant if she had really paid that sum to the accused.

"Yes Ma'am," she answered. She was told by the RM that she had been naive to have paid such a high severance to her suitor. In response, the complainant stated that she had feared for her life.

Having heard the allegations, Thompson interjected "...Your honour, we had a relationship and I have several witnesses to prove that this was so."

The RM told the accused man that the case was serious and, as such, he was remanded until December 12 when the matter will again be mentioned.