Two men who allegedly forged documents to obtain fuel purportedly on behalf of Sol Guyana Limited were granted bail Thursday when they appeared before Magi-strate Melissa Robertson-Ogle at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Bramroop Ragnauth, 34, of 18 Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to uttering to Latoya Williams two forged invoices, purporting to be issued by Sol Guyana Limited, knowing the same to be forged.
While Ragnauth along with Charwin Profitt, 36, of 202 Yarowkabra, Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, both plead not guilty to endeavouring to obtain money from a forged document.
It is alleged that on September 8 at Agricola, East Bank Demerara Ragnauth and Proffit with intent to defraud, endeavoured to obtain from Sol Guyana Limited 23,462 litres of diesel worth $5.4 million by virtue of two forged invoices.
However Ragnauth’s attorney stated that his client would usually transport fuel in the vehicle and the same tanker is used for hire for an independent third party, a Mr. Richard.
He said that valid documentations were allegedly made for the fuel and that Ragnauth’s duty was to go to the fuel depot to uplift the fuel since it was supposed to have been paid for.
The attorney went on to say that it would been have impossible for Ragnauth to know that the two invoices were forged since all he does is transport the fuel to its destination.
The defence attorney then applied for bail.
Profitt’s attorney stated that his client and Ragnauth were victims in the incident and if the police were not so eager to arrest someone for the crime, they would have found the true culprits. He added that there was no way that the fuel could have been delivered and none was. He went on to say that Sol Guyana Limited had suffered no loss in the incident but they were only concerned about the documentations. He then applied for bail for his client. The prosecution made no objections to bail and Magistrate Ogle subsequently granted Ragnauth bail in the sum of $170,000 while Profitt was placed on $85,000 bail.
The magistrate then ordered that the two return to court on October 16.