Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday remanded to prison an 18-year-old who allegedly had in his possession and uttered several ten pound sterling currency notes to a cambio dealer knowing that they were counterfeit.
Arthur Thomas of Tank Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charges of possession and uttering of forged currency notes when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on February 17, Thomas uttered four forged ten pound sterling currency notes to Viswanauth Doodnauth, knowing same to have been forged.
It is also alleged that on the same day, Thomas, without lawful authority or excuse had in his possession four forged ten pound sterling currency notes.
Prosecutor Denise Griffith stated that Doodnauth operates a cambio and that on the day in question Thomas gave him the money in exchange for Guyana currency. She said that Thomas collected $10, 000 in Guyana currency and when Doodnauth realised that the monies were counterfeit, he attempted to take back the $10,000 but Thomas snatched back the sterling currency and fled the cambio. Griffith noted that a policeman who was in the area chased after Thomas who was later caught, arrested and charged.
The magistrate then ordered that Thomas be remanded to prison and that he appear back in court on March 9.