A Brazilian national who confessed to stealing money through Republic Bank Limited using forged bank cards was yesterday fined a total of $310,000 and ordered deported.
Mariel Adriano Barbosa Leal, 52, was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he confessed to charges of theft and conspiracy to defraud the Republic Bank Limited.
The first charge stated that on October 25, at Republic Bank Limited, Camp and Robb streets, Georgetown, he stole $100,000 from Republic Bank. It was also alleged that between October 25 and October 26, at the same location, with intent to defraud, he conspired with persons unknown, to forge eight Republic Bank ATM cards purporting to show that they were distributed by the bank. It was also alleged that on October 26, he attempted to steal $30,000 from Republic Bank.
He pleaded guilty to the three charges.
The Police Prosecutor told the court that the man entered Guyana on October 24, via the port at Lethem, Region Nine and he was granted a three-month-long stay. He then travelled to Georgetown. On October 25, he went to the bank’s ATM machine and withdrew $100,000. The police said that he used the forged card to make the transaction. The prosecutor said he then returned on the following day and attempted to withdraw $30,000 but the transaction was unsuccessful. He was then arrested by the bank’s security and handed over to the police.
The police conducted a search on him and found the eight forged cards in his possession. Four skim cards were also found on him. The prosecutor told the court that five of the forged cards were sent to the court, while three remain with the bank for investigation. She added that the police may charge three other men who were with him.
The Guyana Association of Bankers last Saturday urged ATM machine users to stay alert and protect their information when using their cards.
Leal told the court, through an interpreter, that he had his own card from Brazil on himself when he was arrested. He said that he did not plan to take the money. He further said that his friend gave him the card and told him to make the transaction. He said that he was very sorry while noting that he has his family in Brazil who would pay a fine if the court is lenient with him.
The prosecutor suggested that the court orders that he pay the fine and be deported to his home country rather than serving a sentence. The magistrate said that considering that the amount of money was not substantial and he had cooperated with the court, she would impose the minimum penalty. She also noted that he was a first-time offender. He was fined $150,000 for the simple larceny or six months’ imprisonment if he cannot pay the fine. He was also fined $130,000 or six months’ imprisonment for the conspiracy to defraud, and $30,000 or in default 60 days in jail for the attempted simple larceny.
In a notice published last Saturday, the Association of Bankers advised that should a user observe any unusual activity or devices at the ATM, they should cancel their transaction immediately and inform their bank and the police. “Unusual devices at ATMs are usually skimmers and pinhole cameras that capture card information and PINs. “They are designed to look like parts of the ATM such as the card reader and are detachable,” it explained.
