A Goed Fortuin resident was yesterday granted his release on $100,000 bail after he denied forging an import licence.
Mohammed Haniff, 47, of 398 Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara, was read two separate charges by Magistrate Leron Daly in Georgetown.
It was alleged that on March 26th, 2018, at Camp street, Georgetown, Haniff, with intent to defraud, forged one Import Licence in favour of Dhanram Satrohan , trading as Gandhi’s Sales and Investment, purporting to show that the same was issued by the Ministry of Business.
It was also alleged that on the same day and at the said location, with the intent to defraud, Haniff uttered to Maleka Sealey, a Customs Officer at Guyana Revenue Authority, a forged Import Licence in favour of Dhanram Satrohan, trading as Gandhi’s Sales and Investment, purporting that the same was issued by the Ministry of Business and knowing same to be forged.
Haniff pleaded not guilty to the allegations after they were read to him by Magistrate Daly.
According to the prosecution, during the month of March, 2018, Haniff received an invoice from Gandhi’s Sales and Investment to import some goods when he discovered that the Import Licence that he uses to import goods was expired. Haniff then allegedly used whiteout to change the validity date on the Import Licence. The licence was allegedly used by him at the Customs Department of the Guyana Revenue Authority with the view of clearing some goods. The altered import licence was, however, discovered and he was arrested.
Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh had no objection to the accused being granted bail, however, he asked the court to impose the condition that the accused report every Friday to the Criminal Investigation Department.
Subsequently, Magistrate Daly granted Haniff his release on a total of $100,000 bail for both charges and adjourned the matter until July 13th.
