JP charged with making false declaration

An elderly man who was on the public records as a justice of the peace for St Catherine, may be struck from the roll as he admitted to collecting monies from members of the public to verify documents.

Aaron Francis pleaded guilty to two counts of making a false declaration before Parish Judge Carlo Mason on Wednesday. It was shared with the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court that on January 5, police officers posted at the offices of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency on Constant Spring Road, noticed two individuals speaking with Francis. The investigators contend that Francis signed passport application forms for applicants, claiming that he knew them. He is reported to have charged one woman $3,500 to sign the documents.

"Officer, I know that it's not right, but I fell on hard times and I used the opportunity to make some money," Francis allegedly said when cautioned.

But when Francis stood in the prisoner's dock, he objected to being before the courts and challenged the validity of the summons that was served on him.

"I spoke with a lawyer earlier and he told me that I am to be brought before two or three justices of the peace. So I don't know if I am in the right court. I even spoke with my custos," he argued.

"You are here before the correct jurisdiction and you know why you are here, and even pleaded guilty," Judge Mason responded, before the prosecutor added that Francis could not object to the summons.

Francis was then fined $50,000 on each count of the offence or face three months' imprisonment at hard labour. Francis was also made the subject of a fingerprint order.