A DEEDS Registry clerk appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday on six charges of falsification of accounts and a similar number alleging embezzlement.
Nineteen-year-old Kevin Singh, of Lot 418 Section ‘C’ Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, faced falsification charges that stated:
* on August 4, 2009, at the Deeds Registry, being employed by the Government of Guyana, with intent to defraud, he made or concurred in altering a receipt belonging to the Government of Guyana purporting to show that $101,471 was on it and not $150,000, which was paid by R. Jackson, an attorney-at-law;
* on June 17, 2009, at the Deeds Registry, being employed by the Government of Guyana, with intent to defraud, he made or concurred in altering a receipt belonging to the Government of Guyana, purporting to show that $50,000 was on it and not $100,000, which was paid by attorney-at-law L. Hanoman;
* on June 17, 2009, at the Deeds Registry, being employed by the Government of Guyana, with intent to defraud, he made or concurred in altering a receipt belonging to the Government of Guyana, purporting to show that $38,000 was on it and not $48,000, which was paid by the law firm Hughes, Fields and Stoby;
* on June 24, 2009, at the Deeds Registry, being employed by the Government of Guyana, with intent to defraud, he made or concurred in altering a receipt belonging to the Government of Guyana, purporting to show that $61,250 was on it and not $106,250, which was paid by L. Hanoman;
* on June 15, 2009, at the Deeds Registry, being employed by the Government of Guyana, with intent to defraud, he made or concurred in altering a receipt belonging to the Government of Guyana, purporting to show that $243,000 was on it and not $263,000, which was paid by attorney-at-law J. Hanoman and
* on June 17, 2009, at the Deeds Registry, being employed by the Government of Guyana, with intent to defraud, he made or concurred in altering a receipt belonging to the Government of Guyana, purporting to show that $21,000 was on it and not $25,000, which was paid by attorney-at-law Poonai;
The embezzlement charges alleged that:
* on June 17, 2009, being employed in the Public Service of Guyana and entrusted by virtue of his employer with the custody of $100,000, he embezzled $50,000, being part of the $100,000;
* on June 15, 2009, being employed in the Public Service of Guyana and entrusted by virtue of his employer with the custody of $263,000, he embezzled $20,000 being part of the $263,000;
* on June 24, 2009, being employed in the Public Service of Guyana and entrusted by virtue of his employer with the custody of $106,250, he embezzled $45,000 being part of the said $106,250;
* on June 17, 2009, being employed in the Public Service of Guyana and entrusted by virtue of his employer with the custody of $25,000, he embezzled $4,000 of it;
* on June 17, being employed in the Public Service of Guyana and entrusted by virtue of his employer with the custody of $48,000, he embezzled $10,000 of it and
* on August 4, 2009, being employed in the Public Service of Guyana and entrusted by virtue of his employer with the custody of $150,000, he embezzled $48,529 being part of it.
Defence counsel Hukumchand requested reasonable bail and Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey, prosecuting, had no objection but requested that it be in a substantial amount to ensure the accused returns for trial.
The lawyer said Singh has been on $25,000 station bail since 2009 and has always reported to the police.
Counsel added that the accused was only 17 years old when he started his career and it was cut short by unscrupulous people in the Deeds Registry.
Bail was granted in the sum of $120,000 for all the charges, on condition that Singh reports at Brickdam Police Station until the termination of the cases, which will be called, again, on October 10.