A 28-year-old man was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $160,000 on charges of obtaining and presenting a passport by forged means.
The allegation against Stanley Brijnauth is that between September 23, 2012 and September 23, 2014, he conspired with a person or persons unknown to obtain a false machine readable passport #R0189283 in favour of himself purporting to show that it was issued by the Central Immigration and Passport Office (CIPO), knowing it to be false.
Additionally, Brijnauth is accused of uttering to police constable 21710 Timothy Williams a forged machine readable passport #R0189283, purporting to
show that same was genuine and issued by the CIPO, knowing it to be false, on September 23, 2014 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
Brijnauth, a mason of Number 11 Village Corentyne, Berbice, denied both charges when they were read to him by Magistrate Judy Latchman.
His attorney in her address to the court said that her client was quite surprised at the charge since he had left Guyana some time ago with the passport, which was valid.
Counsel said that a few days ago her client travelled out of Guyana to Trinidad on the said passport without any hiccups and was appalled on his return to be told that the travel document was forged.
In a bail application, the lawyer said that her client had no antecedents, and posed no risk of flight. She said that Brijnauth vehemently denies the charges and will return to court to stand trial as he is anxious to clear his name.
The prosecution had no objections to bail, which was set at $80,000 on each charge.
His matter will be called again on September 29 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
