A rice farmer accused of making a false statement in order to acquire a passport was yesterday placed on $100,000 bail when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
The allegation is that on April 16, 2002 at Georgetown, Mahace Chainsukh, 31, of Mahaica Creek, stated on a passport application form that he was Bowal Ram; for the purpose of procuring a passport.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge of knowingly making a false statement for the purpose of procuring a passport when it was read to him by the Acting Chief Magistrate.
When given a chance to respond, the accused told the court that he did not want to say anything in the absence of his attorney Vic Puran. The Magistrate told Chainsukh however that the court could not wait on his lawyer.
The Prosecution told the court that the defendant who is no stranger to Ram, took his [Ram’s], birth certificate to be renewed after which he proceeded to the Central Immigration and Passport Office to apply for a passport in Ram’s name.
Sometime after however, Ram went to have his passport renewed and officials realised that a new passport had already been issued in his name bearing his particulars.
An investigation was launched into the matter and the defendant was subsequently charged.
Chainsukh was later placed on $100,000 bail and ordered to return to Court Three on November 13.
