A Grove resident is now facing three counts of fraud after he attempted to cash a forged cheque that he claims a colleague gave to him.
A city court heard yesterday that on September 7th, Lawrence Simpson, 29, of 182 3rd Street, Grove squatting area, dealt a bad cheque, valued at $845,000 and made out in his name, to a Republic Bank Treasury teller.
Simpson, who was previously employed at a shop in the interior, was also charged with attempting to defraud the teller using the same cheque as well as with conspiring with persons unknown to defraud and issue the cheque to the teller.
Simpson pleaded not guilty to all charges read.
He told the court that he had not been aware that the cheque was not legitimate and stated that it was given to him to cash by a co-worker. Simpson further stated that the man he was referring to had already been taken into custody by the authorities and questioned.
Magistrate Ann McLennan placed Simpson on $75,000 bail and ordered him to report to the Brickdam Police Station fortnightly until his matter is recalled on October 5th.
