A Special Sergeant appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday in relation to corruption charges.

Gilbert Richards was charged with breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act and was granted $150,000 bail.

It is alleged that on March 18, the police officer made an arrangement with the owner of a Toyota Coaster to release his vehicle that was at the police station for a sum of money. It is alleged that the accused told the bus owner that if he brought the money, he could prevent him from going to court.

It is said that the man who owns the vehicle went to the police station with the money but did not see Richards, so he gave it to another police officer to give it to the accused.

A sting operation was set up and the sum of $5,000 was found in a room in which Richards was located. This sum of money was identified as that which was given to the accused by the bus owner. Richards was arrested and charged.

According to Richards' lawyer, the accused denied the allegation against him. He added that his client has an unblemished police record and has been a part of the police force for 26 years.

Richards will return to court on July 27 for trial.