A businessman who allegedly used forged bank cheques to obtain almost $3M in industrial, electrical and household items from several businesses yesterday appeared in court on 15 charges and was released on $750,000 by Magistrate Allan Wilson.
Michael Boodhoo called Sidney Sampson and Harrynarine Sukhai of Lot 357 Middle Bank Road, Rose Hall, Corentyne was not required to plead to seven counts of obtaining upon a forged document, four counts of uttering a forged document and three counts of forgery.
Boodhoo reportedly committed these offences on SPR Enterprise, the Edge Electronics, Amanda Monroe, S&L Electrical Agency and Cell Smart between May and November using Republic Bank and Scotia Bank cheques.
It is alleged that on November 21 at Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara with intent to defraud he obtained from SRP Enterprise ten rolls of barbed wire, ten rolls of razor wire, 25 gallons of paint and 18 security lights, together valued $405,250 upon or by virtue of a forged Republic Bank cheque.
On May 17, he allegedly obtained two Ipod systems valued $26,000 property of the Edge Electronics using a forged Scotia Bank cheque.
On July 23 at Eccles, using a forged Republic Bank cheque he obtained from Monroe one bedroom set and a quantity of foam mattresses, totalling $1,303,728.
Boodhoo on May 18 allegedly used a forged Scotia Bank cheque to obtain $373,520 in electronic gear from the Edge Electronics and on the same day he used a forged Scotia Bank cheque to obtain the same amount in electronic systems from the said store.
On August 4, he allegedly obtained three air conditioning units and one high voltage stabilizer valued $354,844 from S&L Electrical Agency using a forged Republic Bank cheque.
And on May 8, he allegedly obtained three cell phones valued $160,000 from Cell Smart Inc. using a forged Scotia Bank cheque.
Boodhoo is additionally accused of uttering and forging the bank cheques.
Police prosecutor Denise Griffith objected to bail being granted. According to Griffith if the accused is granted bail there is the likelihood that he will not return for his trial. She said also that the accused has matters of a similar nature before the courts.
Adding to her grounds for the refusal of bail, the prosecutor said that if granted bail there is the likelihood that he will commit offences of a similar nature.
Griffith informed the court that it took some time for Boodhoo to be apprehended. She explained that based on the information the police had received, a `dragnet’ was set and that is how he was apprehended and brought to court. She also informed the court that more charges will be brought against the accused shortly.
Hanoman in response to the prosecutor’s submissions said that his client was arrested last Thursday and “in breach of his constitutional rights was brought to court five days after his arrest.”
He called on the prosecutor to explain to the court why his client was kept beyond the 72 hours permitted, adding that he was not aware of the police seeking an extension in the High Court.
The defence counsel said that the police had five days to do their investigations and that would have been sufficient time to bring all the matters against his client to court at one time.
“The prosecutor is telling this court that my client is guilty and will continue to commit these acts
