Four policemen, including an assistant superintendent, were yesterday arrested in connection with the mysterious disappearance of two men, five years ago, from the Washington Boulevard Plaza, St Andrew.

A release yesterday from Deputy Commissioner Mark Shields said the lawmen would be interviewed in due course, but because of the ongoing investigation their identities could not be disclosed at this time.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Leslie Green confirmed that an assistant superintendent of police has been jailed.

"But he has not been charged," said ACP Green.

The policemen were arrested after the top bra** of the Jamaica Constabulary Force reopened a case into the disappearance of Kemar Walters and Oliver Duncan, who were allegedly abducted on December 23, 2004.

The police reopened the case, following a Gleaner investigation which had revealed that members of the police force and civilians were involved in a major auto-theft ring at the time.

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The Gleaner investigation also suggested that Walters and Duncan might have been killed because of their involvement in the illegal operation.

At least seven members of the police force have now been implicated in the matter.

Prior to the reopening of the case, a corporal was taken into custody, questioned and released, while a sergeant was arrested and charged, but later acquitted in the courts.

Reports reaching The Gleaner are that the senior officer now in jail was attached to the Organised Crime Investigation Division at the time when the men went missing. He was recently transferred to another section of the police force.