NASSAU (AFP) – A paramedic has been charged in connection with a plot to extort 25 million dollars from Hollywood star John Travolta after the death of the actor's son, a senior police official announced.

Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne was arraigned on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort, said Senior Assistant Commissioner Marvin Dames.

Lightbourne, 47, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Although details of the alleged plot were unclear, Dames said Lightbourne was accused of having a "document" which he was using "to extort a substantial sum of monies from the victim, Mr. Travolta."

Police earlier said that Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston filed a complaint after they were approached by someone claiming to have photographs of their 16-year-old son Jett, who died January 2 at the family's vacation house in Grand Bahama.

On Monday however Danes denied reports of compromising photographs.

A female lawmaker, Pleasant Bridgewater, was charged Friday with two counts of abatement to extort and conspiracy to extort. She was released on 40,000 dollar bail.

Bridgewater, an attorney, resigned from her senate seat on Saturday, saying that she plans to focus her full energy on fighting the charges.

Police on Friday also briefly detained Obediah Wilchcombe, a member of parliament and former tourism minister, but released him without charges. Wilchcombe described himself to reporters as a friend of the Travolta family.

Bahamas officials who conducted an autopsy on Jett Travolta said the teen died of a seizure and that his body showed no signs of head trauma.

The autopsy results appeared to contradict statements from the boy's family and island police that he had hit his head in the bathroom.

Jett was the only son of 54-year-old film star Travolta and Preston, 46. The couple also has an eight-year-old daughter, Ella.

Jett was last seen on New Year's Day when he went to use the bathroom at the family's residence at the Old Bahama Bay Resort on Grand Bahama island. He was found around 10:00 am the next morning unconscious in the bathroom.

Jett Travolta had a history of seizures since he was a toddler. But his father denied reports that his son was autistic, saying that at age two, Jett had Kawasaki Syndrome, a condition that can lead to heart disease.

Source: AFP