By PAVEL BAILEY
TWO men were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a fake $4,349 cashier’s cheque.
Barrington J Lashley, 30, and Patrickedo Rose, 32, stood before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on a shared charge of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Lashley faced an additional three charges of possession of a forged document, uttering a forged document and attempted fraud by false pretences.
At around 3.30pm on May 23 at the Commonwealth Bank on Prince Charles Drive Lashley tried to cash a fraudulent CB cashier’s cheque in his name for $4,349.
Upon discovery that the cheque was a forgery officers from the financial crime unit were dispatched to arrest Lashley, who in a subsequent interview admitted to the offence.
It was during this interview, for which Lashley signed the record of interview, that he claimed that a man named “Rider” had given him the fake cheque.
He also said that this unknown man promised to pay him $1,500 if he successfully pulled off the transaction.
In court Lashley pleaded guilty to all four charges against him, while his co-accused Rose pleaded not guilty to the sole charge against him.
After his plea Lashley put himself at the mercy of the court.
He said that even though he was desperate for cash after losing his job and home he was still sorry for what he had done.
Lashley’s defence, while acknowledging his prior marijuana drug conviction to a fine of $1,500, still asked that the Magistrate not impose a custodial sentence in view of his early plea of guilt.
The Magistrate found Lashley guilty of the offence and ordered him to serve one year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
After informing Lashley of his right to appeal her sentence within seven days, the Magistrate said the only reason he didn’t face a stiffer sentence was because of his early plea of guilt.
Magistrate Vogt-Evans then said that even though she understands his difficult situation it was still no excuse to commit a crime, as taking that money would have only hurt someone else.
As for Rose’s case, he was granted $3,000 bail with one or two sureties on condition he sign in at the Elizabeth Estates Police Station every Sunday by 7pm.
His trial is expected to begin on August 4.
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