Vendor Wazim ‘Wazie’ Baksh is being accused of three counts of fraud, including receiving outboard engines using a forged $4 million cheque, all of which he denied at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The Tuschen Housing Scheme resident was arrested in connection with claims that between February 1 and October 31 last year, he had obtained from Robert Doorga the sum of $500,000 by pretending he was in a position to obtain a plot of land at Evergreen, Essequibo.
This charge was dismissed by Magistrate Fabayo Azore after Baksh’s counsel, Dexter Todds, informed the court that pursuant to a declaration of payment in the amount owed, the complainant had opted to settle the matter outside of court.
The complainant was present at yesterday’s hearing to attest to this. However, the complainants in the other matters were not.
The remaining charges, the court heard, will be dropped and the matters dismissed on July 18, once the respective complainants appear before the court to confirm that they too no longer wish to proceed, as contended by Todds.
These other charges stemmed from allegations that on April 3 at Parika, Baksh obtained from Navindra Boodhoo, three outboard engines knowingly under a forged $4 million Republic Bank cheque by purporting it was genuine.
According to counsel, his client “had nothing to do with the cheque…he just delivered the engines, which had been returned to the complainant.”
Counsel submitted that the police charged the wrong man.
Based on this, he said, the complainant indicated he has no intention to pursue the matter anymore.
Further, the lawyer said the March 8 charge against Baksh, in which he was alleged to have uttered a US$100 note with intent to defraud Deolall Persaud, will also be dismissed when the complainant appears on July 18 to corroborate counsel’s contention that he received the equivalent in Guyanese currency and as a result, no longer wished to go through with the matter.
After Prosecutor Burgett Grant had no objection to bail, it was set at $250,000 and $50,000 for the two respective charges.
