A woman accused of two counts of forgery was remanded to prison Friday when she appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It is alleged that on March 26 at the Ogle Airport, with intent to defraud, Gloria Barahina Guevard uttered to Lance Corporal Bentham, an immigration officer, one forged Spanish passport numbered AC557562 in favour of Martha Victoria Valero with her photograph inserted, in order that it may be used as genuine, knowing the same to be forged.
The other charge alleges that on March 29 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, with intent to defraud, Guevard uttered to Constable Thakurdin, an immigration officer, one forged Spanish passport numbered AC557562 in favour of Martha Victoria Valero with her photograph inserted, in order that it may be used as genuine, knowing the same to be forged.
Through an interpreter, the Spanish-speaking woman who stood in the dock of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court denied the charges read to her.
When asked by the magistrate the purpose for the defendant’s presence here, the interpreter related to the 2court that the woman said she wanted to “see Guyana.”
When asked where in the country she was staying prior to her arrest, the court heard from the interpreter that the accused was “renting somewhere” but could not remember the name of the place.
Meanwhile, Police Corporal Venetta Pindar told the court that “the facts were as charged,” after which no further details of what transpired on the days in question were given.
The prosecution objected to the woman being admitted to bail, citing that she has not provided the court with any fixed address and that may pose a difficulty for the police in locating her.
Pindar said also that the woman may want to flee the jurisdiction in an attempt to escape trial.
The matter allegedly committed at Ogle was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court for April 4 while the other case was transferred to the Providence Magistrates’ Court for April 8.
