Four police officers have been taken into custody following further investigation into the 2004 abduction and murder of Kemar Walters, 19, and Oliver Duncan, 35, from Washington Boulevard.

The disclosure was made in a release issued yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields said. The release said "The officers concerned are now in custody and will be interviewed in due course. Due to the fact that this is an active ongoing investigation the details of the officers will not be disclosed at this time."

The circular stated that the families of Kemar Walters and Oliver Duncan have been informed.

The new development in the matter comes some 14 months after the case was reopened by the Jamaica Constabulary Force following new information that was published in The Gleaner about the case. The case was initially closed in 2007 after the Crown said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute an accused corporal fingered in the disappearance of the men.

shocking information

However, the newspaper had published in-depth articles regarding the situation in February 2008, bringing shocking information of police corruption and the ultimate abduction of the men to the fore.

Reports of the controversial incident are that the police drove to the parking lot of the Washington Boulevard plaza on December 23, 2004, where they accosted the men. One of them was said to be involved in a car-stealing ring involving members of the police. Both men have been missing since. It is believed that they were abducted and subsequently murdered.