Clerk Granted Bail After Forging $23M in Employer’s Cheques

February 8 2025- A 29-year-old clerk has been charged in connection with the forgery of cheques totaling $23,049,000, allegedly drawn from his employer, Edward B. Beharry & Company Limited.

Dhamendra Gangdat, a father of one from Lot 679, 17th Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

According to the charge, on July 25, 2024, at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, Gangdat allegedly forged two cheques from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI)—one valued at $48,500 and another at $23,000,500—falsely presenting them as being issued by Edward B. Beharry & Company.

Gangdat pleaded not guilty to both charges and was represented by attorney-at-law Domnick Bess.

Bess requested reasonable bail, arguing that Gangdat was not a flight risk, had no prior convictions, and had fully cooperated with investigators since the probe began in August 2024.

He further stated that Gangdat had been employed as a clerk at the company and had actually discovered the fraudulent transaction himself, reporting it to his supervisor.

The defense contended that Gangdat was being wrongfully implicated, as other individuals involved in the matter had not yet been brought before the court.

Bess also emphasized that there was no direct evidence linking his client to the forged cheques, as Gangdat had not received the funds. Instead, the attorney claimed it was a senior employee who had signed the cheques, with Gangdat merely being familiar with the signature.

The prosecution informed the court that the investigation was ongoing, with statements still being collected.

However, the prosecutor did not object to bail, noting that Edward B. Beharry & Company had not authorized or disbursed the large sum in question and that the final recipient of the funds remained unknown.

When questioned by the magistrate on whether there was any evidence that Gangdat had attempted to obtain money from the forged cheques, Bess reiterated that his client had not received any funds and that there was no concrete link between him and the alleged crime.

After considering both arguments, Magistrate McGusty granted Gangdat bail—$50,000 for the charge involving the smaller sum and $150,000 for the larger sum.

The case has been adjourned to March 12, 2025, for further proceedings.