Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Spanish Town, St Catherine

A 33-year-old St Catherine woman who collected hurricane-relief cheques in the names of two other persons was remanded when she appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magis-trate's Court on April 1.

Claudia Mitchell pleaded guilty to fraud charges when she appeared before Resident Magistrate Lorna Errar.

Fraud Squad detectives outlined that on January 9, Mitchell went to the post office in Spanish Town where she presented identification and was given a $20,000 Hurricane Dean relief cheque. She went back during the same month and collected another cheque for a similar sum, while using another name.

On February 8 when she went to collect a cheque in her own name, her criminal actions were revealed. The police were called in and she was arrested and charged.

When Mitchell turned up in court, she said she was unaware that a person who told her that she was to benefit from hurricane relief, but who did not have an ID, was not in fact a beneficiary.

She told the court further that she was willing to return the money. She then made restitution to one of the persons whose name she had collected the money in. Also, $10,000 was paid to the post mistress as part of the other complainant's relief money.

A relative asked that time be given for the full restitution to be made. Mitchell was given until April 10 to make full restitution.

Meanwhile, the justice of the peace who gave her the identifications was ordered by the court to be charged with negligence.