Israeli charged in N.L. with identity theft, fraud
Police claim she sold prints in St. John's she claimed were original art
CBC News
Posted: Jun 20, 2011 6:17 AM NT
Last Updated: Jun 20, 2011 4:30 PM NT
Idan Wells, 26, appeared in court in St. John's on Saturday. (Natalie Kalata/ CBC )
An Israeli woman is undergoing a court-ordered psychiatric assessment after police said she went door-to-door in the east end of St. John's selling prints she claimed were original works of art.
Idan Wells, 26, has been charged with fraud under $5000 and two counts of impersonation.
She was trying to sell the prints for about $150 each, said a police officer who described what Wells was trying to sell as prints from Asia.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and Canada Border Services arrested Wells on Friday.
Police said Wells assumed the identities of two Canadian citizens – a woman in Alberta and another woman in New Brunswick.
She was sent to the Waterford Hospital in St. John's for a psychiatric assessment after appearing in court in St. John's Monday morning.
RNC Const. Suzanne FitzGerald spoke with CBC News on Monday. Glenn Payette/ CBCThe RNC said Wells transferred thousands of dollars to adresses in China and Israel.
They also said she gave investigators a false name when she was questioned Friday.
Police said Wells is also accused of immigration violations.
She's expected to appear in court for a bail hearing Tuesday.
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