RAJPAUL Basdeo on Monday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with forging a document and was granted $60,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Basdeo of Section B, Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery.

He denied that he, on March 27, 2019, at Charlotte Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, forged a special Power of Attorney document, purporting to show that it was signed by Dhanmati Ramjass, knowing the same to be forged.

The court was told that Ramjass and Basdeo are known to each other. During the year 2018, Ramjass travelled to Canada to have an operation done on her eyes. The operation was unsuccessful and later resulted in her losing her sight.

Given her situation, she started using her thumb print instead of a signature to conduct her business. She later learnt that Basdeo made a claim that she signed a power of attorney document giving him control of her two properties. The matter was reported to the police and following an investigation, Basdeo was charged.

The matter was adjourned to May 17, 2021.