A POLICE constable has been remanded in custody charged with shooting dead a young man in South America more than 20 years ago.Michael Andrew Cheong, of Peterhouse Crescent, Woodbridge, attended a 10-minute hearing in the wood-panelled court one of Bow Street magistrates' court in London yesterday .

By Richard Smith

A POLICE constable has been remanded in custody charged with shooting dead a young man in South America more than 20 years ago.

Michael Andrew Cheong, of Peterhouse Crescent, Woodbridge, attended a 10-minute hearing in the wood-panelled court one of Bow Street magistrates' court in London yesterday .

An application for bail was made by Ipswich solicitor Neil Saunders on behalf of Cheong, who has been a police constable in Suffolk for eight years.

This was opposed by Sarah Whitehouse, prosecuting, and district judge Daphne Wickham refused to give bail.

He will appear on September 15 at the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court where administrative details about the case will be discussed.

Cheong, a 42-year-old British citizen, is charged with murdering Brian Spencer, a 23-year-old carpenter, of Buxton, near Georgetown, Guyana, on August 4, 1982, the day after Cheong's 20th birthday. Mr Spencer died after being shot in the Linden Highway area of Guyana.

Cheong has been suspended from duty since he was first arrested on November 10.

During yesterday's court hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name and he was not asked to enter a plea.

Cheong, who has served with the Army and the Prison Service, is believed to have been stationed at Ipswich police station before he was arrested.