The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN yesterday testified how a police constable charged her $2,500 to help her get a letter of administration for the estate of her deceased husband last year only to discover the document was forged.

Denise Bowleg’s testimony came during the fraud trial of Stefan Rahming, a police constable.

The 40-year-old is accused of presenting a forged letter of administration for the estate of Syrille Morley and Dave Bastian between March and July of last year.

He is also accused of uttering the forged documents and stealing over $1,000 from Ms Bowleg by reason of service.

Witnesses allege Rahming committed the acts while he was employed at a local funeral home that was hired to assist with their loved one’s burial.

The police officer has denied the allegations.

Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis is presiding over the case, while Inspector Lincoln McKenzie is prosecuting.

When Ms Bowleg took the stand yesterday, she testified how Rahming asked her last April if she needed help with finding someone in getting a probate following her husband’s death.

Ms Bowleg said after telling Rahming that she needed assistance, he told her he had a lawyer friend who could help and added the fee would be $2,500, which she later paid him at her home.

The witness continued that Rahming then told her he would bring a letter of administration for her deceased husband’s — Syrille Morley — estate in about two to three weeks.

Ms Bowleg said weeks later, he eventually brought the document and told her to make copies.

Ms Bowleg also confirmed she was arrested after presenting the document to workers at Ansbacher House, where the Supreme Court is located, who later discovered the document was fake.

During cross-examination, Rahming’s attorney Terrel Butler suggested Ms Bowleg had purposefully presented a forged letter of administration to the Supreme Court to get her husband’s $50,000 cash bail.

However, this was rejected by Ms Bowleg yesterday who insisted she worked for her own money.

She also said she never would have presented the letter to officials if she had known it was fraudulent.

Asked if she ever received a receipt from Rahming, Ms Bowleg replied “no”.

The next witnesses to take the stand were Quaneka Morley and Marisol Morley, Ms Bowleg’s daughter and sister-in-law respectively.

Both women testified to being present at Ms Bowleg’s home when Rahming collected the funds from her and handed over the letter of administration weeks later.

Druscilla Bain and her daughter, Tameka Bastian-Campbell, were also among those who gave evidence against Rahming yesterday.

Their testimony was in relation to a forged letter of administration for the estate of Dave Bastian which was allegedly presented to them by Rahming.

Bastian’s sister, Ms Bain, told the court how Rahming handed her an envelope at Lowe’s Pharmacy sometime in June of last year to give to her daughter.

She said she took the envelope to her daughter’s house and placed it on a shelf.

Meanwhile, Mrs Bastian-Campbell testified to receiving the envelope but did not detail its contents based on objections from the defence attorney.

Also taking the stand yesterday was Assistant Superintendent of Police Yvette Deveaux, attached to the RBPF’s Financial Crime Investigations Unit.

The assistant superintendent testified of her role in conducting confrontations last year between Rahming and his accusers, who claimed he gave them the false documents.

However, ASP Deveaux said when questions were put to Rahming concerning the allegations, he vehemently denied them all and claimed the $2,500 funds he received from the Morley family were for funeral expenses.

The assistant superintendent also told the court how she listened to a voice note alleged to be of Marisal Morley asking for Rahming to get the letter of administration.

She said the person responded “ok” and asked for the address of her location.

ASP Deveaux said while Rahming admitted that the number in question was his, he again insisted that his business dealings with the Morely family were strictly funeral related.

The case continues on March 23.