Arrest in forgery case

A 33-year-old woman has been charged with using fake $50 notes at several shops in Palmerston North. Rachel Elizabeth Howarth faces five counts of using a document for pecuniary advantage and possessing a forged banknote. She appeared in Palmerston North District Court yesterday and did not enter a plea. She has been remanded in custody until January 15. Senior Sergeant Phil Ward said the counterfeit notes looked and felt different to real ones and lacked an embossed design in the plastic window. However, the fake money had still been accepted by several shopkeepers.