A Corporate Area-based justice of the peace (JP) found himself on the wrong side of the law after the local immigration department discovered that he was allegedly collecting fees to stamp and sign false documents.

The accused, Manley McLean, was summoned to the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday after representatives from the Passport, Immigration and Citizens Agency (PICA) discovered that he had made false declarations on at least two forms.

Charged with forgery

Information reaching The Star is that a man, Basil Scott, applied for a passport at PICA's Constant Spring Road office under the name Emmit Moses. It was then discovered that a passport had already been issued to Scott in his correct name. A representative from PICA said that during further investigations it was revealed that Scott had paid the JP to certify his application. Scott was arrested and charged with forgery, uttering false documents and making false declaration.

McLean, who was later summoned to court, was charged with making a false declaration for allegedly certifying that he had known the fictitious Emmit Moses for 10 years.

The investigating officer said that information suggested that the JP would charge between $400 and $500 to sign a document.

READ MORE