Brazilian, who allegedly stole GBTI’s money with fake ATM card, granted bail

Last Updated on Friday, 4 September 2015, 16:14 by GxMedia

A Brazilian man accused of stealing money from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) with a fake Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) card was Friday granted GUY$100,000 bail.

His Ramon Xavier Moreira.

City Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan granted him his pretrial liberty despite objections by  Police Prosecutor, Deniro James on the basis that he is not a Guyanese, has no ties to Guyana and  so he is a flight risk and would not return to court for trial.

Moreira is required to report daily to the Criminal Investigations Department and stay in the custody of the Brazilian Embassy until September 9, 2015.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge of simple larceny, that is to say that on Monday, August 31, 2015 he stole GUY$60,000 property of GBTI. Through an interpreter, the 30-year old man told the court that he travelled to the Unites States to Guyana and that he trades in perfume and clothing.

Moreira, who arrived in Guyana through Lethem, and was staying at the Kanaisa Hotel, Robb Street, Georgetown.

The prosecution’s facts are that the Brazilian man was not the holder of a Guyanese bank account. He was allegedly seen on surveillance camera withdrawing GUY$60,000 and was arrested on his return while making the second withdrawal.

Investigators said his name was on the ATM card but the number was not registered to him. Moreira told the court that his bank has an arrangement with other banks that allows him to withdraw money and that he had also done so in the US without any problems.

Defence Lawyer, Paul Fung-a-Fat told the court that there was no evidence to prove where the crime was committed and he asked successfully that his client be granted bail with reporting conditions.