A teenager who said that he forged a drivers’ licence to earn a living as a driver in order to provide for his mother and two younger brothers was yesterday remanded to prison by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Joseph Bharrat, 19, was charged with uttering a forged document and forgery after being arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He accepted that on March 10, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he presented a drivers’ licence, numbered ADW-28 to a police constable, purporting to show that he was a licensed driver, knowing same to be false. Bharrat also admitted that on the same day, with intent to defraud, he forged one drivers’ licence numbered ADW-28.
The Magistrate asked Bharrat his reason for committing the offences and he explained to the court that he had dropped-out of school to support himself, mother and two younger brothers as the sole breadwinner of his family. He said that they have a mortgage to pay.
The young man, who resides at 94 Third Street Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, said that when he left school, a job as a driver was the only opening he was able to secure and at the time was too young to secure a licence the legal way.
Attorney George Thomas, who represented Bharrat, begged the court for lenience in dealing with his client, saying that he had not wasted the court’s time and was penitent for his actions.
Asking the court to take into consideration that his client is the only provider for his family, the lawyer requested that a fine be imposed as opposed to a custodial sentence.
Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey however requested that the teen be dealt with accordingly by law. After listening to the case, the acting Chief Magistrate informed Bharrat that he would be remanded to prison until March 14 for sentencing.
