A woman who was reportedly caught on camera using a skimming device to capture customers’ card information at an auto shop was in tears on Monday after she was remanded when she appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Attorney Richard Lynch came to court on Monday with the intention of making a bail application for his client Chantal Wallace, who is from Moore Street in Kingston, but both were left disappointed after Acting Parish Judge Chester Crooks told them that the application was premature and that they would have to return to court today.

The bail application for Wallace, who is charged with unauthorised access to computer data, failed after the investigating officer told the court that the evidence against her was overwhelming. The officer said, too, that the Communication Forensics and Cybercrime Unit (CFCU) is examining the accused phone for evidence to strengthen the case against her, as well as to find evidence that could possibly lead to the arrest of people with whom she is believed to be working.

The officer also submitted copies of the video recording of Wallace allegedly swiping customers’ cards.

Consequently, Judge Crooks told Lynch that it was best to make the application today, when the police is expected to have the CFCU report and after he had viewed the video.

According to allegations, Wallace, who was employed at the shop as a cashier between October 26 and December 8, reportedly used a fake electronic data capture device to collect unsuspecting customers’ identity and banking information from their bank cards.

The captured data was then allegedly given to third parties who maliciously used the data to access the card holder’s account.

An amount in excess of $500,000 was allegedly stolen from customers’ accounts.

— Tanesha Mundle