Police hopeful falsifies CSEC grades

A woman who falsified her CSEC grades in order to enlist in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has found herself in trouble with the law after her attempt to con her way into the law enforcement body backfired.

Crystal McDonald, 24, attended a recent JCF recruitment drive where she presented the fraudulent certificates indicating that she received passes in Mathematics and English at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate.

McDonald pleaded guilty to possession of and uttering forged documents when she appeared before Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.

"Madam, is the JCF drive you were going to with forged documents? So, hold on, you don't know that police investigate these things? Dem would a must find out," the judge said, expressing disbelief at McDonald's actions.

The JCF requires that applicants have a minimum of four CSEC subjects, including passes in Mathematics and English, to be considered for enrolment.

McDonald told the court that she attained four subjects while at high school, but confessed that she did not pass Mathematics and English.

"You know if you did apply yourself, you would get the little Maths and English. But now, because of what you have done, you can't turn police and you would've made a good officer. She would a make a nice CISOCA [Centre For Investigation Of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse] officer, see how she would take time with the likkle pickney dem," the senior judge expressed.

"Ms McDonald, for these offences, I think the appropriate sentence would be for you to pay a fine, pay money. This is serious, you know, because look at where you went with the forged documents, to the police. Some people would say your eye dry, but I don't think so. I would discount it to a lack of life experience, from what I am seeing and hearing."

McDonald, a mother of two, told the judge that she was not able to pay the impending fine, as she only had $4,000 in her possession. She also said that she earns an income by working at a restaurant twice a week.

A fingerprint order was made and McDonald is to return to court September 22 for sentencing.