A legal clerk attached to the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Court was on Tuesday placed on $500,000 bail after pleading not guilty to two forgery charges involving a $17 million cheque.
Rocquel Charter, a Legal Clerk II, appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court, charged with forgery of a negotiable instrument and forgery of a document with intent to defraud.
According to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Charter allegedly forged a Bank of Guyana cheque between August 18 and 20, 2025, by falsely signing the signature of the Clerk of Court, an authorised signatory to the account.
The $17 million cheque was drawn on the court’s Maintenance Account and made payable to Omari James.
SOCU further alleged that Charter forged a letter purporting to have been issued and signed by the Clerk of Court. The letter allegedly authorised the payment to James for rehabilitation works purportedly carried out at the court.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Charter’s attorney, Ronald Daniels, applied for bail.
SOCU Prosecutor Darin Chan objected, citing the seriousness of the offences, the penalties upon conviction and the circumstances surrounding the alleged forgery of official court documents.
However, Magistrate Fortune granted Charter $500,000 bail, subject to several conditions. The release did not specify those conditions.
The matter was adjourned to November 30, 2026, for disclosure of the prosecution’s evidence.
