A 50-year-old Dutch citizen yesterday pleaded guilty to the charges of uttering a forged document and conspiracy to commit a felony when they were read to him by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Mohabir Persaud

Between April 1, 2008 and March 15, 2009 at Timehri, Mohabir Persaud of 170 Second Street, Prospect, East Bank Demerara and Lauwmaziere Laan Den Haad, Holland, with intent to defraud, conspired with a person or persons unknown to forge one Netherlands passport in favour of himself.

On March 15 at Corentyne, the said Mohabir Persaud uttered to Inspector Ray one Netherlands passport containing a false stamp knowing same to be false.

Persaud initially pleaded not guilty to the charges with advice from his counsel but before the Acting Chief Magistrate was finished with the matter, with further advice from his counsel the court was told that Persaud would change his plea to  guilty.  His lawyer said, “My Worship, being a foreign national my client was advised to change his plea from not guilty to guilty so as to avoid lengthy court proceedings.”

The attorney pleaded with the magistrate to be lenient  and asked that the accused be given a fine rather than being imprisoned.

Persaud was subsequently fined $150,000 for each offence or two years imprisonment.