A 49-year-old police officer was yesterday charged with tipping off a woman in relation to a money-laundering investigation.

Emmerson Carrington, of Devonshire, pleaded not guilty in Magistrates’ Court to disclosing information to another person that was likely to prejudice an investigation that was about to be conducted into money laundering, knowing or suspecting that a police officer was proposing to act in connection with that investigation.

The offence allegedly took place on November 29, 2013.

Deputy director of public prosecutions Cindy Clarke told the court that the offence attracts a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment or a $15,000 fine.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo granted Mr Carrington $10,000 bail on the condition that he have no contact with the woman and adjourned the matter to October 13 for mention.

Commenting after Mr Carrington’s court appearance, Martin Weekes, the Assistant Commissioner of the Bermuda Police Service (BPS), said he had been suspended pending the outcome of the case.

“A serving police officer appeared in Magistrates’ Court today charged with an offence in relation to an ongoing investigation,” Mr Weekes said. “The officer is currently suspended pending the outcome of the court case.

“As this matter is now before the courts the BPS will have no further comment on this matter until the conclusion of the case.”

According to the BPS website, Mr Carrington joined the BPS in 2003, having served with the Royal Barbados Police Force for 17 years.

Mr Carrington is also a cricket umpire, having sat the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association’s exams in December 2013. He was voted Umpire of the Year in 2014.

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