A policewoman from Jamaica has been charged in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged rape and robbery of a female motorist in St Elizabeth last month, according to reports from the Jamaica Gleaner.

Constable Lavern Hendricks, 44, of Ginger Hill district in the parish, was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and misconduct in a public office after it was reported that on January 30 the female driver was stopped during a vehicle check point operation and a breach of the Road Traffic Act was detected.

According to the Gleaner, Constable Alwayne Hill, who has been charged in connection with the case, allegedly solicited money in exchange for not prosecuting the woman.

“She was taken to an automated teller machine (ATM) and was allegedly subsequently sexually assaulted. According to the police, the woman made a report to Hendricks who was on duty. However, Hendricks allegedly told the woman to lie in exchange for money,” the online newspaper reported Tuesday

The report said that the woman constable also reportedly gave a false statement to colleagues, who had subsequently launched an investigation.

The report was sent to a senior investigator and a case file was prepared and submitted to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), who recommended that Hill and Hendricks be charged.

“Hill was previously charged with rape, grievous sexual assault, forcible abduction, corruptly soliciting and simple larceny regarding this incident,”, according to the Gleaner