Fraud case goes before Chief Magistrate

A 26-year-old St Michael man has been remanded to Dodds prison for 28 days in connection with three fraud charges allegedly committed in two jurisdictions.

It is alleged that Kemo Avery Grant, from Rogers Road, Grazettes dishonestly obtained $398.49 in goods from BJ’s Value Market Inc trading as Popular Discount, with intent to permanently deprive the company, by falsely representing that eight $50 Popular Discount vouchers that he produced were good and valid orders for payment.

The offence is said to have occurred in the District ‘B’ Oistins jurisdiction on February 4. No plea was taken on that offence when Grant appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes.

The accused is also facing two other indictable charges for which he was not required to plead. He is accused of uttering to Babb’s Mini Mart a forged CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank cheque in the sum of $734.40; drawn on the account of the National Insurance Benefit and made payable to Winslow Dacosta Bayley on January 20.

On the same day, Grant is also accused of obtaining from Stephen Babb trading as Babb’s Mini Mart a quantity of goods worth $203.80 and $530.60 in money on the same forged CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank cheque.

Sergeant Victoria Taitt objected to bail for the accused based on the seriousness of the offences, the fact that he was known to the court with six convictions, four of which fell under them the Theft Act. The prosecutor  also informed Chief Magistrate Weekes that the accused was already on bail on 2020 charges.

“This speaks to the likelihood of the accused re-offending. It is clear that society needs to be protected from the accused,” Taitt submitted.

However Grant’s attorney Latisha Springer in her bail submissions argued that her client was a fit and proper candidate for bail given that he has been adhering to his prior bail conditions and attending his court hearings.

The defence lawyer admitted her client was known to the court but with convictions which dated back five years.

Claiming that Grant had a “bonafide” defence with regards to the charges before the court, the lawyer suggested that conditions could be put in place, such as reporting to a police station, a curfew, and or an order for her client to stay away from the establishments mentioned, in a bid to allay the prosecution’s fears.

In the end, Weekes said he would not exercise his discretion in the accused’s favour at this time.

Grant was remanded to reappear before Weekes in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on July 5.

Before that he will appear before the Oistins Magistrates’ Court on June 17 in connection with the charge from the District ‘B’ jurisdiction.