A 17-year-old boy accused of using forged money to purchase shoes and then escaping from the police station lockups was remanded to prison when he appeared at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The teen pleaded not guilty to two charges of uttering forged currency and escaping from lawful custody and was remanded to prison by Magistrate Fazil Azeez.

It is alleged that last Tuesday at Vreed-en-Hoop with intent to defraud Sukdeo Banson, the teen uttered a forged currency note to wit a US$50 note knowing same to be forged. Further, on the same day it is alleged that while being detained in lawful custody at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station lockups pending a charge of uttering forged currency, he escaped from custody.

Attorney-at-law Frank James entered an appearance for the teen. In his submissions he stated that his client is employed at the Ministry of Finance and lives with his parents in Georgetown. He said that the teen was unaware that the money was forged and said that the teen had received it from “Uncle Harry”, whom he said came from the United States recently. He declared that the teen while waiting for his girlfriend was buying the shoes to “impress” her. Regarding his client’s alleged escape he stated that “he was terribly frightened by certain behaviour” at the police station. He pleaded for bail to be granted.

The magistrate after listening to counsel stated that he was refusing bail and remanded the teen to prison until next Friday when he has to appear at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court.