Justice of the Peace (JP), Howard Charvis was granted $500,000 bail when he appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's (RM) Court on a charge of false declaration.

However, when Charvis appeared before RM Natalee Brooks, he plead not guilty.

His lawyer made a successful bail application, citing that the JP is a fit candidate for bail and that he has no previous conviction.

Bail was granted on condition that he reports three times weekly at the Linstead police station.

The RM ordered that he surrender all properties of his office to the custos of St Catherine and no longer practise as a JP or Notary Public.

He is to reappear in court on September 16 when the matter will again be mentioned.

Allegations are that on March 28, 2014, Charvis signed a form on behalf of Vernon Callum. However, it was later revealed that his real name was Craig Bartley.

The court heard that Bartley had presented a fictitious electoral identification card. He reportedly gave a caution statement that he did not visit nor know the JP who signed the document.

An investigation was launched which resulted in the accused been charged on June 14.