A man was on Tuesday placed on bail after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to the charge of forgery.
It was alleged that on December 16 at Georgetown, Guy Matheson was in possession of four Gy$ 5000 Guyana currency notes without any lawful reason or cause, knowing the same to be forged. Matheson pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge as it was read to him.
An unrepresented Matheson told the court that he was walking along the road when he found an envelope containing the notes along with Gy$ 200 and had spent the smaller amount but went to enquire from a shop owner about the Gy$ 5000 notes stating that he had never seen them before.
He went on to say that when the police came to arrest him for another matter, this one was brought to their attention, but he has not yet been charged for the previous matter. He added that he did not know he was supposed to take the notes to the police station until he was told about it.
Based on his explanation, Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry entered a not guilty plea.
Prosecutor Bharat Mangru objected to bail, citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence along with the fact that more charges are likely to be laid against the defendant.
Bail was granted in the sum of Gy$ 75,000 and the matter stands adjourned to February 7, 2014.
After hearing that his bail was in a substantial amount, the defendant seized the opportunity to escape since the officers were distracted by another prisoner who was behaving disorderly.
He walked briskly out of the courthouse and was heading in the direction of Carmichael Street when Constable 21528 Yarris noticed the defendant missing and subsequently arrested him.
