Extortion Case Against Immigration Officer Monique Escalante Discontinued

The extortion case against interdicted Immigration Officer Monique Escalante has been discontinued after the prosecution was unable to proceed without its main witness.  The 34-year-old appeared before High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim, where the Crown sought to have a statement from the virtual complainant admitted as hearsay evidence because the complainant, Jamaican national Janhoi Shaun-Dhe Richards, could not be located to testify.  The Crown reportedly attempted to contact Richards by telephone, email and social media, but received no response. Four witnesses were called during a voir dire as the prosecution attempted to establish the necessary legal basis for admitting his statement.  Justice Pilgrim ultimately ruled in favour of a no-case submission made by defence attorney Leslie Hamilton. Without Richards’ testimony or statement, the Crown entered a nolle prosequi, formally discontinuing the case. The court then dismissed the charge against Escalante.  The decision does not amount to an acquittal, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions may bring the charge again if Richards is located and sufficient evidence becomes available.  Escalante was charged in 2024 following allegations that Richards was extorted at the Philip Goldson International Airport on March 15 of that year. Richards alleged that immigration officers instructed him to place money inside his passport and that he ultimately handed over three thousand US dollars.  Several immigration officers were reportedly investigated, but Escalante was the only person criminally charged. She pleaded not guilty and remained out on bail while the matter proceeded through the courts. The substantive trial never began because the case remained at the stage of determining whether Richards’ statement could be admitted.