MONTEGO BAY, St James — Desreen Clarke’s attempt to assist in securing bail for two individuals has now placed her at the centre of a criminal case of her own.

Clarke appeared before the St James Parish Court on Wednesday to answer to a charge of uttering a forged document, stemming from her submission of a questionable property valuation report while seeking to act as a surety.

Though represented by attorney-at-law Adrian Dayes, it was attorney Chumu Paris who appeared on her behalf, with Dayes engaged in proceedings before the Westmoreland Circuit Court.

According to court documents, Clarke visited the court office on May 27 to submit paperwork in support of her application to act as surety for two persons in custody. Among the documents was a valuation report, purportedly issued by a Montego Bay loss-adjusting company, claiming that the property in question had a market value of $880,000.

However, routine checks quickly revealed a stark difference: the property’s verified market value stood at only $470,000 — nearly half the stated amount.

Clarke was later arrested and charged.

Following the reading of the allegations Wednesday, Parish Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton enquired, “Is Miss Clarke on bail?”

Paris confirmed that she was.

The judge, pausing briefly, remarked, “I wonder why.”

In response Paris stated, “She has surrendered herself to court, demonstrating that she will make herself available when required and can properly instruct her counsel.”

Judge Fairclough-Hylton acknowledged the explanation and extended Clarke’s bail. The matter was then scheduled for a case management hearing on July 2.