The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN told two Magistrates yesterday he wanted his lawyer present before answering to 70 fraud allegations he faced concerning use of fraudulent cheques to obtain more than $30,000 worth of goods from 15 businesses.

Errol Knowles, 44, of Isabella Avenue, appeared before both Acting Chief Magistrate Joyanne Ferguson-Pratt and Magistrate Saboula Swain due to the number of charges that he faced.

However, when the respective arraignments occurred in Magistrate Court’s no.9 and no.11, Knowles told the court that he was not prepared to enter a plea without his lawyer – Glendon Rolle – present.

Rolle, Knowles said, was in the Supreme Court.

Acting Chief Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt said she was reluctant to defer the matter, but would do so having regard to Knowles’ request and the prosecution’s submissions about the number of charges.

Magistrate Swain, although prepared to proceed with the second arraignment, also adjourned the matter as presiding court no. 5 was set to resume hearing matters the following day.

Both magistrates remanded the accused man to Her Majesty’s Prison overnight and ordered for him to reappear to be arraigned.

Knowles, according to court dockets, is accused of conspiring to commit fraud by false pretences, possessing forged documents, uttering the forged documents, attempted fraud and fraud by false pretences between April 30, and July 24.

It is alleged that Knowles used fraudulent Royal Bank of Canada cheques drawn on the account “Curvaceous” on 15 occasions during that period to obtained $32,455.13 worth of goods under false pretences from the Paint Depot, Satellite Bahamas Ltd, Discount Tyre and Battery Outlet, C&S Steel and Building Supplies Co Ltd, Nassau Glass Company, Cartwright Building Supply Co Ltd, Wright’s Plumbing, Top’s Lumber & Plumbing Co, Paul’s AC and Refrigeration, RC AC and Refrigeration, Don Stainton Protection Ltd, Henry F Storr Electric, Bahamian Paint, Wilson & Wilson Hardware and Kelly’s Lumber Yard.

He returns to Magistrates Court today to answer to the charges.