Caretaker accused of obtaining $2M at Palm Court via forged cheques  

A caretaker who allegedly stole  a number of cheques and subsequently presented them at Palm Court to obtain more than $2M in food and drinks was placed on $3 million bail on Friday when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on several fraud-related charges.

It is alleged that twenty-seven-year-old Steve King of 64 Premniranjan Street, Prashad Nagar, between July 7 and 27, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $2,040,900 upon  six forged Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) cheques,  purporting to show that he should obtain  food and beverages to that value at  the Palm Court Restaurant and Bar, Main Street,  knowing same to be forged.

In the same period, with intent to defraud, it is alleged that King uttered to Asha Wong six forged GBTI cheques, drawn to the total sum of $2,040,900, knowing the same to be forged.

King is also charged with forgery which states that during July 7-27 he allegedly forged the said cheques to show that they were signed by Paul James.

Attorney-at-law James Bond requested reasonable bail for his client, stating that King is innocent of the charges and does not pose a flight risk.

Bond also said that his client, who is a motorcyclist like himself,  is well known to the police and around Georgetown.

Counsel also stated that his client will ensure that he attends every court hearing if granted bail.

The prosecution had no objections to bail but requested that the accused report every Friday to the Criminal Investigation Depart-ment (CID) at 9:00am.

King is scheduled to  make his next court appearance on October 5 in Court One.