Freddy Vargas, the Colom-bian national charged with fraudulently withdrawing more than $1 million using a fake ATM card, was hit yesterday with 12 more charges alleging that he stole an additional $1.8 million.
It is alleged that between July 17th and July 21st, Vargas withdrew a total of $1,880,000 from Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Ltd locations at Regent Street, Water Street, High Street, Provi-dence, Vreed-en-Hoop, Bagotstown and Lethem.
Attorney Latchmie Rahamat, who represented the defendant, asked for reasonable bail to be granted while stating that her client, who was visiting Guyana at the time he was charged, is a retired Major from the Colombian army, is married with two children and has never been in trouble with the law before.
The attorney related that Vargas is before another magistrate for matters of a similar nature and had been granted bail. However, he could not afford to pay the sum and as a result he remained behind bars. Rahamat requested that bail be granted once more so that her client could clear his name and she assured that the man would report to the police every week, if necessary.
Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt objected to this request, while stating that the defendant had no fixed place of abode and could not be relied upon to return for trial. Hunt also pointed out the Vargas has six matters pending before Magistrate Ann McLennan and seven other charges that are yet to be filed.
Magistrate Judy Latchman refused the defence’s bail request and ordered Vargas to be remanded until September 25th, when the matter will be recalled. Vargas had earlier in the day appeared before magistrate McLennan concerning the previous charges read against him and that matter too was adjourned to September 25th.
