Cabbie caught with fake driver’s licence

A public passenger vehicle operator told the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Wednesday that he was scammed out of $35,000 by a man who told him that he could obtain a driver's licence for him.

Shaleil Huie pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and uttering forged documents. It is reported that on February 7, police on traffic duties noticed a Toyota Probox was illegally parked. They informed Huie of the offence and asked for his licence and motor vehicle documents. The police questioned the authenticity of the driver's licence as some security features were missing.

Huie then informed them of the offence and was cautioned. He reportedly told the police "Is a man a di Swallowfield depot weh name [redacted] me pay $35,000 fi sort it out for me, because him have him son work a di tax office weh him can get fi renew and upgrade it for me, and mek mi get it back in a no time."

He confessed to Chief Parish Judge Chester Crooks yesterday that "A scam him scam me. Him say him can help me out, so me just work with it."

Crooks was not amused. "That made sense to you? And you said you drive a public passenger vehicle? Well, not again Sir. It's the height of irresponsibility and you can't tell me that you never know," Crooks told the defendant.

For conspiracy to defraud, Huie was ordered to pay a fine of $50,000 or face six months' imprisonment and for the offence of uttering forged documents, the judge ordered him to pay a fine of $100,000 or face six months' imprisonment. Huie was made the subject of a fingerprint order and is to appear in the Corporate Area Traffic Court on April 25 when he is to answer to charges of disobeying a no parking space, driving with no insurance coverage and operating contrary to the terms of a driver's licence.

- T.T.