Festival City plumber charged with forging $1.5M cheque

A North Ruimveldt plumber was on Friday charged with seeking to defraud the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) of $1.5 million using a forged cheque.

Abraham Hamilton, of Lot 1869 Festival City, North Ruimveldt, George-town, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was remanded by Magistrate Rhondel Weever after he denied three charges laid against him.

It is alleged that on September 15, 2021, at the GBTI’s Regent Street branch, in Georgetown, Hamilton, with intent to defraud, forged a GBTI cheque, #2029996395, in favour of himself for the sum of $1,500,000, purporting to show that same was issued by Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc., knowing same to be forged.

It is further alleged that on the same date and at the same place, with intent to defraud, Hamilton uttered to a teller of GBTI, Arvindra Ramlall, cheque #2029996395 in favour of himself, purporting to show that same was issued by Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc., knowing same to be forged.

It is also alleged that on September 15, 2021, he endeavoured to obtain the sum of $1,500,000, from GBTI, either upon or by virtue of a forged instrument, to wit Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited cheque #20209996395 purported to be issued by Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc.

According to the Police Prosecutor, on the day in question, Hamilton went to the bank to cash the cheque. He said that the teller, upon examining the cheque, recognised that it was forged. The teller then made a report and Hamilton was arrested.

Hamilton denied the three charges and was remanded to prison until October 15.