A businessman yesterday found himself accused of forging a Republic Bank cheque worth over $4 million to obtain office stationery after being held in a police sting operation.
It is alleged that Besham Ganpat, 31, Lot 15 First Street, Industry, during the period August 10 to August 22, 2014, conspired with others and forged a Republic Bank Limited cheque No. 0895939, valued at $4,400,800. He was also accused of obtaining a quantity of office supplies and $252,000 cash from Danaram Chand on August 22. It was further alleged that on the same day at Eccles, Ganpat gave the forged cheque to Chand.
Ganpat denied the charges when they were read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Ganpat’s lawyer Leslie Sobers told the court that his client, who has been into importing and exporting business for the past eight years under the name Global Starr International, was in the process of selling stationery when he was accused of selling stolen commodities. He asked for bail in a reasonable sum as he explained that the man’s business was not flourishing.
But Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that Ganpat was arrested during a sting operation on the Ogle Airstrip Road and objected to bail as he said Ganpat is a flight risk. He also signalled that there is the likelihood of more charges being levelled against the accused following the completion of the investigations into the matter.
Sobers described Grant’s objections as “unfounded” and stated that his client was in the process of transporting goods to a client when he was arrested by the police. He said that his client was not a flight risk, since he has substantial investments in the country and is suing an associate in the High Court.
Grant contested Sobers’ declaration that his client would return to answer the charges, as he informed the court that the police was given Lot 331 Prashad Nagar as Ganpat’s address, while the court heard that he was residing at Industry.
The attorney then explained that his client had recently relocated from Prashad Nagar and he did not know how the police got that address.
After Grant informed that the investigation into the matter will be completed by Wednesday and that possible charges might be laid then, the Chief Magistrate remanded Ganpat to prison until tomorrow.
