Fraudster remanded pending sentence

A seemingly “quick deal” involving fraudulent cheques has landed a first time offender on remand at Dodds awaiting his fate.

Darius Romain Blackett, of no fixed place of abode, was sent to the St Philip facility until June 8 after he pleaded guilty to three criminal charges.

He admitted to dishonestly obtaining from JG’s Wholesale Discount Centre Limited, on May 13, liquor worth $750 via a forged cheque with intent to permanently deprive the company. Blackett repeated the offence the following day when he again obtained alcohol worth $800 from the same company, via the same method. Three days later, on May 17, he did the same thing and this time got $850 worth of brandy.

Station Sergeant Crishna Graham said Blackett went to the establishment on all three occasions with cheques. However the proprietor soon recognised that the name of the business, written on the cheques, was no longer operational and the police were notified.

He was arrested but none of the liquor was recovered.

“I was just doing somebody a favour. All I have to say, I get trick in changing these cheques. I did not know that these cheques were not valid. I working and stuff right now and I wouldn’t like to lose my job,” Blackett claimed adding: “I didn’t get nothing from it. I was not looking for nothing.”

Questioned by Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes, the convicted man also claimed that he did not know the person who gave him the cheques.

“I ain’t know the body. What happen was . . . I went by a bar on Friday to drink some drinks, I see de man, he offer me a drink. He ask if I want more and he say he going to write a cheque in my name.”

Blackett said it did not dawn on him to question the man on why he could not conduct the transactions himself.

“I ain’t ask myself nothing so. He is a contractor. I tell myself he playing lazy. I only get $75 on Friday 13,” he claimed as he denied being part of the scam.

The Chief Magistrate told him, “Quick deals, you all ain’t plan to work for nothing just because you drink with this man you did this. This is crazy. This is absolute madness you went and do. Common sense ain’t common at all.”

Weekes was mindful to grant the first-time offender bail pending sentencing but Blackett told the court he had no one to sign bail on his behalf. “I have nobody to call,” he stated before he was remanded until June 8 when he will learn his fate.