By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 35-year-old woman was charged yesterday with 40 counts of possession of a forged document in connection to the recent trend of people attempting to travel using falsified COVID-19 test results.

Laderia Russell appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with several fraud-related offences which the prosecution said she committed between November 2020 and March of this year.

Prosecutors have filed 80 counts of forgery and another 80 counts of possession of a forged document against Russell. Yesterday, the accused denied 40 of the 160 allegations brought against her. 

According to prosecutors, Russell, with the intent to deceive, was found with three Doctors Hospital health system negative COVID-19 RT-PCR tests in the name of Verneiqua Bethel on January 28, February 11 and 25.

The court heard she was also found with additional falsified test results in the names of Mervin Langley, Ethel Smith, Deron Duncombe, Sherwanda Hanna and Prescott Cleare on February 10; March 5; January 16; February 4 and January 20 respectively.

After spending last night on remand, Russell returns to court today to enter a plea to the remaining 120 charges.

Over the past few weeks, a number of people were arrested and prosecuted after they attempted to use fake COVID-19 test results to travel to various islands in the country.

Earlier this month, a 21-year-old mother was sentenced to six months in prison for presenting a false Doctors Hospital COVID-19 test result when she attempted to travel on April 7. 

Last week, Monalisa Davis was also fined $5,000 after she presented a fake Bonaventure Medical Laboratory RT-PCR negative COVID test to a COVID ambassador at Lynden Pindling International Airport on April 11.

Meanwhile, an Abaco man who paid nearly $200 for a fake COVID test he presented to airport officials in an attempt to return home, was also ordered to pay the same fine to avoid spending three months behind bars.

The recent trend in fake tests results has prompted the Royal Bahamas Police Force to warn people against obtaining fake COVID-19 tests.

In a press release last week they stated: “The Commissioner Paul Rolle and his team are advising all citizens, residents and visitors to go through the correct procedures when obtaining such documentation for travel or otherwise. We urge you to take this warning seriously to avoid prosecution and to help keep you, your family and the wider community healthy.”