A former Jamaica Police commander on the run over child molestation charges may be hiding in Bermuda, according to reports.

However, the officer leading the hunt for fugitive Harold Crooks believes he may be feeding the media false information about his whereabouts.

A report in yesterday's Jamaica Observer newspaper said authorities may seek the extradition of Crooks, the former commandant of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) who is aged in his 70s.

He's believed to have fled Jamaica on March 17 to escape trial for alleged sexual molestation of an underage girl. The newspaper article quoted a confidential source saying Crooks is suspected of first entering the US, before eventually moving on to Bermuda.

However, other Jamaica media reports suggested Crooks may be in Canada and he did an interview with the Jamaica Gleaner Power 106 News Centre on Wednesday saying as such.

The Police officer leading the hunt, Deputy Superintendent Herfa Beckford told The Royal Gazette: "I don't have that information that the Observer has with regards to him being in Bermuda."

She added: "I understand Mr. Crooks himself is communicating with various media. My effort and the effort of my office is to have Mr. Crooks brought to justice."

Deputy Supt. Beckford doubts Crooks is in a country with an extradition treaty with Jamaica, such as Bermuda and Canada have. She thinks he may be using the media to throw investigators off the scent.

"I think he's trying to get persons mixed up to be looking in one place when he's in the other," she said. "If Bermuda has a treaty, why would he want to go there?"

She hopes whichever country Crooks is in will return him to Jamaica to face the charges.

"It involves a child. I don't know which country would want to keep a suspect who's wanted for child molestation," she said.

The Bermuda Police Service also cast doubt on reports that Crooks may be on the Island. A spokesman said yesterday: "Enquiries have been conducted today in relation to reports of a Jamaican fugitive being in Bermuda. There is no information to substantiate those rumours."

Deputy Governor David Arkley said: "Whilst extradition between Bermuda and Jamaica is possible under the UK Extradition Act 1989 [as modified in the Extradition (Overseas Territories) Order 2002], I am not aware of any request for extradition being received in Bermuda from the Jamaican authorities."

During the interview with the Jamaica Gleaner station, Crooks revealed he has no intention of returning to Jamaica as he fears he will not be given a fair hearing. He claimed the incident for which he's being sought involves a 16-year-old girl with whom he had a brief relationship.

He said contrary to reports made to the Police, he did not have sexual relations with the girl until after her sixteenth birthday and with her consent.

He is represented by attorney Vincent Wellesley. Asked by this newspaper yesterday if his client is hiding in Bermuda, Mr. Wellesley replied: "I have no idea where he is. He's not spoken to me."

Crooks is a former security advisor to the Government of Jamaica and has also worked with the United Nations and the Government of Belize. He spent 22 years as a member of the ISCF, an auxiliary of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.