John Mercurious, 27, appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate (ag) Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with fraud.
It is alleged that on October 30, while at Camp Street and South Road, Lacytown, Georgetown, he tampered with electronic data in an attempt to defraud Citizens Bank for economic benefit for himself or another person.
It is also alleged that while in the vicinity of Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown, he had in his possession 4 blank cards with magnetic strips used for committing a computer-related fraud.
It was also stated that on October 29, while at Camp Street and South Road, Lacytown, he used passwords and blank cards with intent to rob a Citizens Bank ATM for himself or another person.
Mercurious pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
The court heard that the police acting on information received, went to Roxanne Burnham Gardens where they observed a white Toyota Spacio, PRR 1301 that was parked. They observed two persons inside, including the defendant Mercurious.
The officers approached the vehicle and informed the men of their intent to conduct a search based on information received. The driver of the car was then searched but nothing relating to the offence was found. The defendant however was found to have in his possession, one New York State card, one Republic Bank Card, and one Chase Visa Card with the name Kerwin A George, along with four blank cards with magnetic strips. He also had in his possession, eight $5000 bills, and twenty-nine $1000 bills amounting to a total of $69,000.
Mercurious told investigators that he was given the cards by someone by the name of Trini and told to go and withdraw the cash and upon completion he would receive $20,000.
Meanwhile, the bank provided investigators with CCTV footage showing Mercurious on October 29 and 30 between 18.16 and 18.22 hours, withdrawing money from the ATM.
The prosecution objected to bail on the seriousness of the offence and the fact that the offence caused persons to lose money.
Bail was refused and Mercurious was remanded to prison until his next scheduled court appearance on November 30.
