Ex-cop remanded on fraud, forgery charges

A former police officer was on Monday remanded to prison after being charged with multiple counts of forgery and attempting to obtain money by fraudulent means.

The accused, 26-year-old labourer and ex-policeman Omari James, of Farm Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, allegedly attempted to withdraw $35 million from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Limited, Diamond branch, using forged documents.

He appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Court, where the charges were read. James pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison.

According to police, on September 25, 2025, James entered the bank and presented a teller with a national identification card, a driver’s licence, and a withdrawal slip—all in the name of Shameer Ali but bearing his photograph. A supervisor detected inconsistencies between the documents and the bank’s records, including discrepancies in the date of birth and the photograph.

James was later arrested and charged with two counts of uttering a forged document, contrary to Section 245(b) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 08:01; one count of uttering a forged document, contrary to Section 277 of the same Act; and one count of demanding money upon a forged instrument, contrary to Section 278(b) of the Act.

The case was adjourned until October 31.