By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A TRIAL date has been set for the 35-year-old woman who was charged with over 100 fraud-related offences in connection with the recent trend of fake COVID-19 test results.
Laderia Russell appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with 160 counts of forgery and possession of a forged document which the prosecution alleged she committed between November 2020 and March of this year.
Police allege Russell, with the intent to deceive, was found with forged Doctors Hospital and Premier Clinical Lab health system negative COVID-19 RT-PCR tests in the names of several different people, knowing they were not genuine.
It is further alleged the accused, with the intent to evade the requirement of the law, forged the COVID-19 tests in the name of the individuals to purport them as genuine.
Last week, she pleaded not guilty to 110 of the allegations. When she returned to court yesterday, she also pleaded not guilty to the remaining 50 charges. As a result, the matter was adjourned to August 24-26 for trial.
Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt extended the $40,000 bail she had granted Russell until that time.
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