A businesswoman, who is accused of knowingly exchanging a counterfeit United States $100 bill for Guyana dollars, was granted her release on bail yesterday after she denied a fraud charge.
Ali Williams, of South Ruimveldt Park, pleaded not guilty to the charge that on October 12th, 2018, at North Road, Lacytown, with intent to defraud, she uttered a forged US$100 note to Roshanda Burnett.
The charge was read by Magistrate Leron Daly.
According to Prosecutor Sanj Singh, Burnett and Williams, who are not known to each other, were at a salon and Williams asked if anyone could change US$100. Burnett indicated her interest and gave Williams GY$20,000 in exchange for the note.
According to Singh, Burnett went to a cambio to change the money and was told that the bill was counterfeit. She then went to the police station and made a report.
However, Williams told the court that she received the US$100 bill from a “Mr Cadogan” (only name given) and that the bill she had given Burnett was an old version of the currency. She repeatedly denied the allegation and further went on to say the reason she was charged was because when she was approached by Burnett to repay the money, she refused.
Williams was subsequently granted bail in the sum of $15,000 and the matter was adjourned until April 5th, 2019.
