Clerk on fraud rap SPALDINGS, Clarendon: A CLERK employed at the Western Union branch inside the Spaldings People's Co-operative Bank who told police she was held-up there at gunpoint and robbed of $400,000 early last month, has been arrested and charged with creating public mischief and conspiracy to defraud. The Constabulary Commun-ication Network (CCN) said police investigations revealed that the clerk, Stephanie Bradford, 26, originally from St. Ann but now living at Sanguinetti, Clarendon, had conspired with a man to take the cash during what was later reported to be a robbery at the Western Union outlet there on July 7, this year. According to the police, Bradford had reported that she was at the Western Union outlet on the date of the incident making preparations to open to the public when a man came to the main door of the facility at about 8:30 a.m. and asked if he could enter to transact business. She told the man to wait, and when she went to open the door to allow him in he pulled a gun, pointed it at her and said he came for the money, to which she reportedly responded by saying she had none. When the gunman's demand was not met he reportedly led Bradford, at gunpoint, to a vault where the overnight deposits are normally kept, took the money and left. However, following investigations the police called in Bradford for questioning on August 18, during which she reportedly admitted that the man who took the cash had visited the Western Union office as a result of previous arrangements she made with him the day before the incident. The man, whose name has been obtained by the police, was said to be living in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Bradford, who is pregnant, was arrested and charged and appeared in the Spaldings Resident Magistrate's Court last Wednesday. She was offered $500,000 bail and the case transferred to the Mandeville Resident Magistrate's Court where she is scheduled to appear on September 19 to answer to the charge.
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