By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A PARLIAMENTARY Registration Department employee was accused yesterday of helping a Haitian woman obtain a voter’s ID and possessing five blank voter’s cards last week.
Prosecutors allege that Randy Powell Jr, 31, aided and abetted Tashania Valsaint, 33, in obtaining a fraudulent voter’s card in her name on February 11.
The pair allegedly conspired to commit fraud against the PRD on April 9.
At about 11.30am that day, Valsaint allegedly uttered the same fraudulent voter’s card in an attempt to obtain a NIB smart card.
Authorities were alerted and arrested both defendants.
Powell was allegedly found in possession of two voter’s cards in the names of Sharnika Smith and Jared Smith, along with five Parliamentary Registration Department Form B documents for transfer bearing the names of Naquel Outten, Cynthia Garçon, Donald Rolle, Rachel Fleurimont and Jamie Symonette.
He was also accused of having five sealed voter’s cards bearing no names.
The arrests come amid a crackdown on fraudulent voter IDs ahead of the May 12 general election.
Powell was charged with seven counts of unlawful possession, five counts of possession of a fraudulent document, and abetment to commit fraud by false pretences.
Valsaint was charged with possession of a forged document, uttering a forged document, and attempted fraud by false pretences.
The pair faced a joint charge of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences.
They pleaded not guilty to all charges before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly Burrows.
Powell’s bail was set at $9,000 with one or two sureties.
Valsaint was granted $8,000 cash bail due to her immigration status. She will be fitted with a monitoring device and must surrender her travel documents.
Both accused must sign in at the Southern Police Station every Monday by 6pm.
They return to court on August 14.
Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom prosecuted.
Quinton Percentie represented the accused.
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