Mom forced to pay $100,000 as son absconds bail

An elderly woman who stood as surety for her son, who is before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on forgery charges, had to pay almost $100,000 on Tuesday after it was revealed that he is presumed to have left Jamaica and absconded bail.

Chevaunce Coley was charged in 2022 with forgery and uttering forged documents. He was offered $80,000 bail with a surety and was expected to attend court on Tuesday when his matter was set for mention. However, when the matter was called up by the clerk of courts, Coley's mother entered the courtroom and informed Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque that her son may no longer be in Jamaica.

"I spoke to his wife and she told me that he was overseas," the woman shared with the court.

"Miss, you are going to have to pay the bail amount," the senior jurist indicated. Reluctantly, the woman took a seat in the well of the court, before she was escorted from the courtroom to pay the monies.

The allegations are that sometime in 2022, Coley went to the United States Embassy in Kingston and presented a police certificate that appeared unusual. It was brought to the attention of the Fraud Prevention Unit, which launched an investigation. Enquiries were made at the Criminal Record Office, seeking to verify the authenticity of the certificate. Checks revealed that the document was forged.

On October 14, when Coley returned to the embassy for a follow-up interview, he was shown the forged document, to which he acknowledged that he submitted it during an initial interview. He was then informed of the offences and when cautioned, Coley allegedly said, "It better me jus give up. Everything mi try, mi get inna trouble."

- T.T.