Man accused of impersonating senior cop

One of the alleged cybercriminals who investigators say has been impersonating a senior member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force pleaded not guilty to charges last week.

Demoy Pennington, who made his first appearance before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, is facing charges of use of computer for malicious communication. He is accused of impersonating Superintendent Hopeton Nicholson earlier this year, using the senior cop's name and photographs to create fake pages on several platforms, including dating sites.

It was reported in January that the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch commenced investigations into the issue of identity theft in collaboration with other detectives across various divisions. So far, investigators have identified 11 persons across three parishes who fell victim to these illegal activities. Reports are that victims, believing that they are communicating with Nicholson, have been lured to various places across the Corporate Area, St Catherine and St Mary where they are tricked, robbed and in some instances, sexually assaulted. The full allegations into the matter were not shared in open court. Nicholson was not present in court either.

The court heard that he has two other matters before the courts, including one in St Mary. He was made the subject of a fingerprint order and was remanded in custody until December 15.