Tashieka Mair, Star Writer
WESTERN BUREAU
Senior Resident Magistrate for St James, Winsome Henry, is calling for a public campaign against the sale of driver's licences.
Her request was made after the second person, within a month, appeared before the Montego Bay RM Court claiming he bought his licence - that turned out to be fraudulent - from a man at the Motor Vehicle Examination Depot.
The accused Robert Bailey, 27, a mason of Paradise, Norwood, pleaded guilty to possession of and uttering a forged document.
His attorney Natalie Mes-sado told the court that her client was approached by a man at one of the depots in Montego Bay. The man said he would assist him in getting a licence. As a result, he paid the man $10,000 and gave him photographs with the intention of getting a legitimate licence.
In light of the information relayed to the court, RM Henry suggested that police appoint undercover officers to observe the activities at the depots and prosecute persons who carry out these underhanded activities.
Public education
She also gave a charge to the media to highlight the dangers of buying driver's licences and also to educate the public about the proper way of going about obtaining the proper document. The case against Bailey was adjourned until May 15 for a social enquiry report to be prepared and the prospect of community service to be considered as a suitable sentence.
Allegations say the investigating officer was in Cornwall Courts, St James, on April 8 when he saw the accused in a parked motor car. The officer requested documents for the vehicle and the accused handed over the car papers and a driver's licence. However, upon careful inspection of the licence, he found it was fraudulent.
Bailey told the officer he bought it from a man. Under caution he said, "mi want back mi money from da man deh".
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