Mother fined $700,000 for COVID breaches

In a video posted on social media, Erica Milton, 55, of New Bowens in Clarendon, lamented that she was charged nearly $700,000 for breaches under the Disaster Risk Management Act.

Rose Barnes, her daughter-in-law told THE STAR that Milton was on her way to a nearby shop some time after 9 p.m. on August 21, when she was stopped by the police and charged with not wearing a mask and disregarding the curfew order. Barnes alleges, however, that at Milton's court appearance last Friday, she was told that she was also being charged for hosting a party with more than 200 people in attendance. While admitting that the family hosted an event on the night in question, she said it was "about 10 to 15 of us".

"There was nothing that indicated a party. When she arrived at court, the officer who was there the night told the court that there was 200 and something people at the event," Barnes argued. She told THE STAR that Milton was fined more than $100,000 for not wearing a mask and breaching the curfew. She said the charge for hosting the gathering brought the total fine to $1 million, but the judge reduced it to $690,000 after Milton asked for leniency. Barnes said by the time they got the funds together, the courts office was closed, and the family was informed that Milton would be taken to lock-up. She said this was bad for Milton, who is diabetic and suffers from high blood pressure.

"There was no other option. She was going to Four Paths [lock-up] for the weekend and that was it, and for a lady of that age to go through that is absolutely ridiculous," she said.