A Justice of the Peace is facing fraud charges in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court after allegedly writing a fraudulent letter of recommendation for a man, who in turn used the letter to attempt to bail another man from jail.

Justice of the Peace Dennis Webster is facing charges of making a false declaration and breaching the Bail Act.

Webster is alleged to have written a letter of recommendation for a man called Junior Powe – whose identity was stated in the letter as Alveranga Simms. The letter recommended ‘Simms’ as a surety to bail a prisoner at the Half-Way-Tree lock-up by the name of Damion Burnett.

When Powe went to the Half-Way-Tree Police Station to bail Burnett, he reportedly produced a fraudulent driver’s licence along with the letter of recommendation from Webster. The fraudulent licence was, however, discovered by the police and Powe was charged with attempting to procure bail by forged documents. Powe was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison.

In addition, Powe also gave the police a statement against Webster and opted to act as a witness against him at trial. Powe also stated that he had been approached by several unnamed persons and paid $5,000 to act as surety for Burnett.

According to the prosecution, Webster’s letter allegedly stated that he knew Simms (Powe) for more than twenty years. However, checks revealed that Powe was recently deported back to the island, and had been serving a prison sentence in the United States during the period Webster was stated to have known him.

Based on this information, the police subsequently arrested and charged Webster.

Upon hearing these details, presiding magistrate Judith Pusey then ordered that Webster be fingerprinted. He is scheduled to return to court on January 24, 2007.

Earlier this month the Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica (LMAJ) made known its intention to quickly establish a disciplinary committee to sift and throw shady Justices of the Peace (JPs) out of the justice system. This was in response to widespread allegations that JPs were compromising their positions by charging fees for their services.

Also, earlier this month the Ministry of Justice finalised the code of conduct for JPs, outlining the proper protocols and practices of JPs, and also included measures to be taken against those who breached the regulations.