By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN pleaded not guilty when asked to answer to more than half the 70 fraud allegation he faces.

Errol Knowles, 44, of Isabella Avenue, is accused of using fraudulent cheques to obtain more than $30,000 worth of goods from 15 businesses.

He will be arraigned on the remaining charges today when he returns to Magistrate’s Court.

Yesterday, the accused appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Joyanne Ferguson-Pratt, who had adjourned the arraignment on Monday following Knowles’ request that his attorney, Glendon Rolle, be present.

Mr Rolle was in court for yesterday’s proceedings and heard Knowles plead not guilty to charges of possessing forged documents, uttering forged documents, and fraud by false pretences.

The incidents are said to have occurred between May 8 and July 23.

Regarding a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences, Knowles’ attorney objected on the basis that there is no other defendant before the court or listed on the dockets.

He said the charge was “poorly drafted”.

The Acting Chief Magistrate agreed that the charge was improperly placed before the court.

The police prosecutor, after being denied an adjournment for that particular charge, told the court it would be withdrawn for the time being.

The magistrate informed Knowles of this, while noting that the prosecution could at any time bring the charge back.

The prosecution objected to bail, claiming Knowles was likely to commit other offences and still has outstanding warrants.

The magistrate asked for proof of this and the prosecutor asked for an opportunity to get the proof.

The next few minutes of the proceedings were off the record before Mr Rolle submitted that he had no issues with the prosecution being allowed to check the background of his client.

However, he claimed the warrants in question were cancelled.

The magistrate added that she firmly believes an affidavit should be presented in court when there is an objection to bail.

She told the prosecutor to produce an affidavit and adjourned the matter to the following afternoon.

Knowles was again remanded to prison.

It is alleged that Knowles used fraudulent Royal Bank of Canada cheques drawn on the account “Curvaceous” on 15 occasions to obtain $32,455.13 worth of goods from The Paint Depot, Satellite Bahamas Ltd, Discount Tyre and Battery Outlet, C&S Steel and Building Supplies Co Ltd, Nassau Glass Company, Cartwright Building Supply Co Ltd, Wright’s Plumbing, Top’s Lumber & Plumbing Co, Paul’s AC and Refrigeration, RC AC and Refrigeration, Don Stainton Protection Ltd, Henry F Storr Electric, Bahamian Paint, Wilson & Wilson Hardware and Kelly’s Lumber Yard.