John Travolta accused denies claims

26 January 2009 10:57am

A Bahamian politician arrested over an alleged plot to blackmail John Travolta said he had only tried to warn the star after his 16-year-old son died from a seizure.

Obie Wilchcombe said fellow parliamentarian Pleasant Bridgewater told him "someone was doing something untowards" after Travolta's son Jett died at the family's Grand Bahama home -- a message he said he had relayed to the actor's lawyers.

"She (Bridgewater) knew I was close to the Travoltas. She wanted to bring something to my attention," Mr Wilchcombe told New York-based magazine US Weekly.

He said he had not been charged with any crime and called it "ridiculous and absurd" to suggest he had sought money from the Hollywood star, saying one "single individual" had tried to take advantage of the family, according to the magazine.

The details of the alleged extortion plot have still not been made public.

Mr Wilchcombe, a former tourism minister and self-described Travolta friend, was with the actor shortly after his chronically-ill son died on January 2. He and Bridgewater were detained on Thursday along with paramedic Tarino Lightbourne.

Mr Wilchcombe was released from police custody, while Bridgewater was charged with abetment and conspiracy to extort and released on £29,000 bail. She resigned from her Bahamas Senate seat on Saturday, vowing to fight the charges.

Lightbourne was being held on suspicion attempted extortion but has not been charged, said Marvin Dames, a senior assistant commissioner of police.

© The Press Association