MARIEL Adriano Barbosa-Leal, a 52-year-old Brazilian businessman, on Monday admitted that he forged a Republic Bank ATM card and used it to withdraw money on two occasions.

The father of two appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to three fraud-related charges.

Particulars of the first count alleged that between October 25-26, at Georgetown, he conspired with persons known and unknown to forge a Republic Bank ATM card, purporting to show the same was issued to him by the bank.

The second count alleged that using the same forged ATM card, Barbosa-Leal  stole $100,000 from the said bank.

The last count alleged that on October 26, at the bank’s Camp and Robb Streets, location, he attempted to commit a felony, that is to say he stole $30,000 from the bank.

According to details of the offence presented by a police prosecutor, Barbosa-Leal arrived in Guyana via the land frontier at Lethem and was granted a three-month stay.

Barbosa-Leal travelled to Georgetown on October 25, and was at a casino. He then went to a Republic Bank ATM on Camp Street.

The prosecutor said that Barbosa-Leal used a fake ATM card and withdrew $100,000. The next day he returned to the said ATM and attempted to withdraw $30,000, but was nabbed by security officers  attached to the bank.

The prosecutor disclosed to the court that the fake ATM card has an instrument attached to it which has the correct account holder’s information to trick the ATM. However, the bank made the discovery and put systems in place to catch Barbosa-Leal.

The court was told that the investigation is still ongoing and charges might be brought against others who acted in concert with Barbosa-Leal.

Barbosa-Leal addressed the court with the aid of an interpreter. He apologised for his actions and told the court that he was vacationing in Guyana when a friend gave him the ATM card to withdraw money.

Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus ordered Barbosa-Leal to pay a fine of $310,000, or serve a default sentence of six months. She also ordered that he be taken to the nearest port of exit and be deported.