Cheque fraud accused gets bail

A St James man who reportedly tried to cash a fraudulent cheque in the name of a prominent hotel was offered bail when he appeared in the St James Parish Court recently.

Kempwell Williams, of a Westgreen address, is charged with uttering a forged document.

The allegations are that on July 26, Williams went to a bank and attempted to cash a cheque valued at US$2,250 (approximately J$303,637.50), drawn on the account of the White Diamonds Hotel and Resort (formerly Royalton Hotel).

The bank made enquiries with the hotel, and it was discovered that nobody from that facility had signed any cheques to be given to Williams, nor had he ever been employed there.

The police were then summoned, and Williams was arrested and charged.

During the hearing, the court was told that the prosecution was awaiting statements from the hotel's director and financial controller to complete the case file.

Presiding parish judge Sandria Wong-Small subsequently offered Williams bail in the sum of J$150,000 with up to three sureties.

The case will be mentioned again on November 29.