Portmore businesswoman pleads guilty to filing false robbery report

A St Catherine businesswoman who admitted making a false robbery report has pleaded guilty to creating public mischief and is to be sentenced on June 26.  

Shenice Benjamin, from Portmore, entered the plea when the matter came before Acting Senior Parish Court Judge Janelle Nelson-Gayle in the St Catherine Parish Court on Friday.  

Attorney-at-Law Douglas Stewart told the court that his client was acting under duress when she made the report. 

“Your Honour, she was the victim of a robbery. However, she was threatened that her husband would be killed if she reported the matter,” Stewart said. 

He added that Benjamin operates a business and was vulnerable to robberies. 

The court heard that after receiving the report, investigators conducted checks and reviewed closed-circuit television footage from the location, which allegedly showed that Benjamin’s account was false. 

The defence indicated that it still had an interest in examining the footage. 

Benjamin’s bail was extended, and she was made the subject of fingerprinting. 

Judge Nelson-Gayle also ordered the Probation Department to prepare a social enquiry report to assist with sentencing. 

The court was informed that the offence carries a maximum fine of $3 million. 

According to the allegations outlined in court, Benjamin reported to the Portmore Police Station on March 4, claiming that she had gone to purchase items at a wholesale establishment along Hellshire Road in St Catherine when two men on a motorcycle approached her. 

She alleged that the pillion rider brandished a handgun, pointed it at her, and pulled the trigger, but the weapon failed to fire. Benjamin said she managed to close her car door and sped away. 

However, further investigations, including checks carried out with assistance from the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Communication, Forensic and Cybercrime Division, allegedly determined that the report was false. 

Benjamin was subsequently informed of the police findings and arrested and charged with creating public mischief. 

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