Marcus DeFreitas on fraud charge

Local Businessman Marcus DeFreitas was last Thursday, February 19, 2009, released on $10,000 bail, after being brought before the Serious Offences Court on charges of fraud and deception.{{more}}

He was not allowed to enter a plea, as the charges are indictable.

It is alleged that DeFreitas made use of a false instrument, to wit, one RBTT Caribbean Bank Limited cheque, No. 27367, with the intention that Carl Ollivierre should use it to induce Lois Friday to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting it, to do some act to the bank’s prejudice.

The 63-year-old Cane Garden resident was also charged with dishonestly obtaining the services of Carl Ollivierre by issuing him one RBBT bank cheque in the sum of EC$82,500.

It is alleged that DeFreitas told Ollivierre that he wanted to purchase some British currency from him.

It is also alleged that Ollivierre gave DeFreitas £15,000 sterling, and after receiving the money, it is alleged that DeFreitas wrote a cheque for $82,500 and handed it over to Ollivierre.

Ollivierre then went to the bank and handed the cheque to Lois Friday to deposit in his account. However, it was revealed that DeFreitas’ account was overdrawn.

Police sources indicate that DeFreitas was questioned several times after Ollivierre lodged the complaint. It is said that DeFreitas asked for time to pay back the money, but up to the time of his arrest, this had not been done.

Attorney Andreas Coombs represented DeFreitas in the matter. He is scheduled to reappear in court on April 24 for a Preliminary Inquiry into the matter.