Gunmen paid to defend Coke - DCP Hinds

Glenmore Hinds, Jamaica's Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of Crime, on Tuesday afternoon testified that gang members were among scores of men who received payment as part of the efforts to prevent the security forces from apprehending then fugitive Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
  
DCP Hinds revealed that the gang members were being paid up to $30,000 to support Coke in his bid to elude the police.
  
The veteran policeman was, at one point in his more than 30 year career, the Divisional Head for Kingston Western, in which Tivoli Gardens lies. He testifed that some of the individuals armed with M16 and Ak47 rifles were drawn from Rose Town, Spanish Town, Grants Pen and Mountain View.
 
DCP Hinds said investigators also linked some of the men to communities in Southside, Kingston, as well as from Montego Bay and Clarendon. He said there were major difficulties in tackling the armed men, due to the type of weaponry and the terrain.
  
DCP Hinds said the security forces later saturated the area and prevented other gunmen from joining the groups. 

Chairman

During DCP Hinds' testimony, Commission Chairman Sir David Simmons intervened.
 
Sir David said a considerable amount of time was spent by the Deputy Commissioner outlining accounts of the security forces being fired on. He questioned whether they had fired back.

DCP Hinds admitted that the police returned fire, as it was their duty to respond to the attack.