Block maker on 18 charges over forged US$4,000

A block maker accused of giving a woman US$4,000 in counterfeit notes was yesterday arraigned on 18 charges related to forgery.

Conrad Right, 50, was admitted to $250,000 bail by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. Right, of 13 Friendship, East Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the nine counts of forgery and nine counts of possession of forged currency when they were read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It is alleged that Right, between December 10 last year and January 17 this year, with intent to defraud, uttered to Leila Hilliman a quantity of US notes totalling US$4,000, knowing same to be forged. During the same period, Right is also accused of having in his possession US$4,000, knowing same to be forged.

Attorney Patrice Henry, who represented Right, told the court that the circumstances out of which the charges arose were suspicious. He said that his client never uttered forged notes to the virtual complainant and was never in possession of forged notes.

The lawyer said that he did not wish to get into further details of the matter but stressed that Right was anxious to vindicate his name. Henry then made an application for his client to be admitted to reasonable bail.

Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey told the court that the facts were as charged and offered no further details of what led to the charges. The prosecution had no objection to the bail application by the attorney but requested that bail be in a substantial sum, to ensure that the accused returns to court to stand trial.

After the Magistrate granted Right bail, she transferred the case to Court Six for February 22, for reports and fixture.