Old Harbour ex-policeman accused of fraud over driver’s licence freed

An ex-policeman was freed of a fraud charge on Thursday after the St Catherine Parish Court upheld a no-case submission.

Jason Smith was told that the charge of uttering a forged document was not made out against him and that he was free to go.

"Your honour, my client declared to the police his true name and presented his identification in the name. The police then located another document with Germaine Earl McKay. This clearly shows that he had no intent to commit fraud," his attorney Kemar Robinson argued.

Senior Parish Court Judge Desiree Alleyne agreed.

The Crown conceded that it did not have a case.

Allegations were that on July 14, 2023, police personnel searched Smith's dwelling in Old Harbour, St Catherine. During the exercise, a pouch laden with documents was searched and two driver’s licences were discovered.

One was in the name Jason Smith and the other was Germaine Earl McKay.

He declared his true identity as Jason Smith and informed the police that the other document was to prevent his identity from being revealed as an ex-policeman.

Information from the Tax Administration Jamaica revealed the issuance of a driver’s licence in the name Jason Smith to the accused.

He was subsequently arrested and charged with uttering a forged document.

Smith made numerous court appearances and maintained his innocence throughout.

- Rasbert Turner

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