An aeronautical engineer and a barber were yesterday charged with obtaining a quantity of cash from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) by presenting forged forms for persons unable to transact their own business with the agency.
Eon Pearson, of Lot 9 Roxanne Burnham Gardens, and Franklin Solomon, of 298 West Ruimveldt, both pleaded not guilty to separate charges of forgery.
They were each granted $150,000 bail when they appeared before Magistrate Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Pearson denied that between July 18 and September 22 last year, with intent to defraud, he stole over $260,000 from NIS by virtue of a forged form that purported to show that he was appointed to act as a representative for persons unable to transact their own business with the agency but did it in favour of himself.
Meanwhile, Solomon denied that on August 7 last year, with intent to defraud, he obtained over $240,000 from NIS by the same means as Pearson.
The prosecution stated that in the matter with Pearson, who was unrepresented in court, investigations had revealed that the form he presented to NIS purported to show that he represented Joseph Thompson, who is currently an inmate of the Palms, while Solomon purported to represent Clarissa Bowen, who is deceased.
However, attorney-at-law Mohamed Zafar, who represented Solomon, stated that his client is a part-time barber and he had cooperated fully with the police. The defence attorney then applied for reasonable bail.
The prosecution made no objection to the duo’s bail applications and it was subsequently granted in the sum of $150,000 each. They will return to court on September 28.
