Cancer patient misses chemotherapy due to jail

A cancer-stricken inmate has reportedly been refused admission at one of the country's female penal institutions out of fear that she could die in their custody.

"They said they don't want her to die in their care. She was refused because of her illness," attorney-at-law Vincent Wellesley said in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Wellesley's client, Jodi-Ann Bonnick-Anderson, is before the court for one count of obtaining credit by fraud, as investigators contend that she defrauded persons in excess of $10 million.

It is alleged that Bonnick-Anderson received $3.2 million worth of groceries and has failed to pay for them. Bonnick-Anderson, who operates a West Indian grocery store in Canada, allegedly credited the goods from the complainant.

She is being held at a lock-up in Portmore, but Wellesley said the ideal place is South Camp Road remand facility. Wellesley explained that his client, who is a Canadian resident, has two types of cancer and since her detention, has already missed chemotherapy appointments.

He indicated that his client is willing to make restitution, but would have to be facilitated by correctional officers and members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force in using her cell phone.

"It is a peculiar request, but it is not impossible," said Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque.

She ordered that the defendant is to be given access to her mobile device for the sole purpose of having money transferred from her Canadian account to her local account to satisfy her making restitution.

Wellesley said that his client will be making a payment of $1 million on February 23, and another payment of $500,000 on February 29.

The remaining sums, he stated, are to paid on or before March 8.

Bonnick-Anderson was remanded in custody until February 23, when payments are to be made in court.