MONTEGO BAY, St James — What started as a routine ID check turned into a criminal charge and courtroom grilling for a St James woman who presented a bogus driver’s licence to the police.

Felecia Palmer, 26, appeared in the St James Parish Court Wednesday, where she pleaded guilty to uttering a forged document.

According to court documents, about 10:30 am on May 7, Palmer was at a construction site in St James when police asked for an identification. She presented what appeared to be a Jamaican driver’s licence but the cops quickly discovered it was a forgery and Palmer was arrested.

In court, she admitted to presenting the bogus licence but claimed ignorance about its authenticity.

“Where did you get that fake driver’s licence from, Ma’am?” Parish Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton asked.

“I got it to deal with some business, Your Honour,” Palmer replied.

“How much did you pay for it?” the judge asked, her tone firm.

“Thirty thousand, Your Honour,” the defendant answered quickly, before adding that she had no idea it was a fake.

Fairclough-Hylton then asked Palmer whether she had done a practical driving test, to which she replied, “No.”

“So how are you going to tell me you didn’t know it’s fake?” the judge shot back. “You have a driver’s licence. You didn’t go to the depot to drive for it — that alone should tell you it’s not legitimate.”

Palmer told the court she bought the licence from a Cuban lady, who she claimed is no longer in Jamaica.

“Does this Cuban lady work at the examination depot?” the judge asked.

“I’m not sure, Your Honour,” replied Palmer.

“So where did you find this Cuban lady to pay for the fake driver’s licence?” the judge asked.

“Someone told me about her,” Palmer answered.

“Clearly, you knew that this was wrong,” said Fairclough-Hylton before handing down a sentence of $70,000 or three months in prison.