The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN of Haitian descent and his parents were granted bail yesterday after being accused of fraudulently obtaining a Bahamian passport and a National Insurance card.

Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs arraigned Wikender Cleare, also known as “Wikinder Edmond”, 22, on two counts of fraud by false pretences and two counts of possession of false documents.

His co-accused, Ylveta Marcelus-Cleare, 49, and Kavan Cleare, 43, were charged with possession of a false document, two counts of uttering a false document, and two counts of fraud by false pretences.

Wikender allegedly fraudulently obtained a Bahamian passport in his name on August 20, 2019. He is also accused of obtaining a National Insurance card under false pretences on November 20, 2024.

He was allegedly found in possession of the fraudulent passport and NIB card on March 3.

Mr and Mrs Cleare are accused of possessing a fake République d’Haïti birth certificate in Wikender’s name on July 4, 2019.

They allegedly presented this fake birth certificate at the National Insurance Board and the Passport Office on July 27, 2019, and July 9, 2019, respectively.

The defendants are further accused of fraudulently obtaining a National Insurance card and a Bahamian passport in Wikender’s name on June 27, 2019, and August 20, 2019.

All three defendants pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police K Bould raised no objections to bail, which was set at $6,000 with one or two sureties for each defendant.

Under the conditions of their bail, they must sign in at the East Street South Police Station every Friday by 7pm.

Their trial begins on May 7.

Ian Cargill and Murrio Ducille represented the accused.

A Creole translator was present during the arraignment.