KINGSTON, Jamaica - A bearer who reportedly succeeded in defrauding a bank of almost $700,000 after depositing more than $500,000 worth of fraudulent cheques was granted bail in the sum of $700,000 when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

The Kingston 8 resident, Oneil Burton, is facing charges of conspiracy, attempting to obtain money by means of a forged document, causing the bank to pay out money by means of a forged document, four counts of uttering forged documents, and obtaining money by means of forged document following his alleged attempts to defraud the Twin Gates branch of First Caribbean International Bank in Kingston.

The court heard that the accused first went to the bank on November 16 and deposited a fraudulent US$7,482 cheque, which he lodged to the credit card account of another person.

However, following his reported success in getting the funds, Burton went to the bank on November 22 and 28 to lodged two more fraudulent cheques in the of amount of US$11, 300. However, the discrepancy was discovered shortly after.

Unknown to him that his scam was discovered Burton reportedly returned to the bank on December 3 to deposit further US$5,500 and was arrested.

However on Thursday when the matter was mentioned Burton’s lawyer told the court that his client was merely carrying out his job noting that it was his duty to collect the cheques on behalf of his employees.

The magistrate however questioned whether or not he received the fraudulent cheques from is employees.

Burton was then offered bail to return to court on January 15.

-Tanesha Mundle

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