Gilzene Steele fined nearly $160,000 after offering cash to police at St Catherine traffic stop

The St Catherine Parish Court has imposed fines approaching $160,000 on Gilzene Steele after he pleaded guilty to trying to pay off police during a traffic stop, along with several riding offences.

Steele entered guilty pleas on Wednesday to operating a motorcycle without a driver's licence, riding without insurance, failing to wear a helmet, and attempting to bribe a police officer.

The penalties handed down were $30,000 or 10 days in custody for the licence offence; $20,000 or 14 days for the insurance breach; $8,000 or three days for riding without a helmet; and $100,000 for the bribery attempt.

In court, Steele said he had assumed a learner's permit allowed him to ride the motorcycle. The bench made clear that a learner's permit alone does not give legal authority to operate a motorcycle unless the statutory requirements are satisfied.

"Your Honour, one police officer was writing the ticket, so mi tell di next one seh mi have $3,000," Steele told the court when describing how the bribery allegation arose.

Senior Parish Court Judge Desiree Alleyne set a July 24 deadline for Steele to settle the fines.

Evidence presented was that Green Acres Police Station officers on traffic duty intercepted Steele while he rode a motorcycle without a helmet. Further checks showed he held no valid driver's licence and was therefore uninsured as well.

As the tickets were being prepared, Steele is said to have offered one officer $3,000 in a bid to escape prosecution. He was arrested on the spot and subsequently charged.

Steele had no lawyer when he faced the court.