Duo on forgery charges offered bail

WESTERN BUREAU:Two St James residents who allegedly sought to obtain a land title by fraud were offered bail in the combined sum of $400,000 when they appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court last Friday.

Neville Bennett, of a Lilliput address; and Margaret-Ella Rowe, of Westgate Hills in Montego Bay; are jointly charged with conspiracy to defraud. Bennett is also charged with uttering a forged document while Rowe is charged with forgery.

It is alleged that on August 30, 2010, Rowe forged a signature in the name of Ruby Salmon-Bennett to obtain a land title for a property in Lilliput on behalf of her co-defendant Bennett. Additionally, on September 2 that year, Bennett allegedly attempted to acquire the title with a letter bearing the forged signature.

On Friday, the court was told that the prosecution needs one statement to complete its case file. They subsequently requested between six and eight weeks to secure the requisite document.

TO GET LAWYERS

When the accused persons were asked if they intended to get legal representation, Bennett and Rowe both said they would get lawyers in time for the next mention date.

Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong-Small offered each defendant bail in the sum of $200,000 with two sureties. They were also ordered to surrender their passports.

Bennett is to report at the Barrett Town Police Station every Monday and Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., while Rowe will report at the Freeport Police Station, in Montego Bay, at the same times.

The matter will return to court on March 7.