Woman fined $300k after bribing cop $15k, says she was set up

A St Catherine woman who admitted offering a police officer $15,000 in a bid to prevent her son's prosecution walked out of court $300,000 poorer after pleading guilty to attempted bribery, insisting she had been "set up" by the policeman.

The accused, 45-year-old Kadian Anton of Spanish Town, St Catherine, appeared before the Parish Court on Thursday, July 3.

During the proceedings, Anton pleaded guilty but claimed the officer had orchestrated the situation.

"It is he who sent me for the money, that's a setup," she told the court.

Her attorney, Antoinette Wynter-Mignott, appealed for leniency, arguing that her client had acted out of desperation after not seeing her son for more than a year.

The attorney said Anton's actions were a lapse in judgement brought on by stress and pointed out that she had accepted responsibility by pleading guilty, sparing the court's time.

Wynter-Mignott also successfully applied for Anton's fingerprints not to be taken and for the conviction not to be recorded.

In handing down the sentence, the judge reminded Anton that it was wrong to offer money to police officers while they were carrying out their lawful duties.

She was subsequently fined $300,000 or 30 days' imprisonment.

Anton thanked the court for its mercy.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on June 14, 2026, when Anton was travelling in a motor vehicle being driven by her son. The vehicle was stopped by police for a traffic violation.

During the stop, Anton allegedly told the officer, "I can give you $15,000 now," before attempting to hand over the money.

She was arrested and later charged with attempted bribery.

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