From the Courts
January 28, 2005

Vincy, Guyanese on fraud charge

Beverly Williams, also known as Sharon Carlene Benjamin of Stubbs, has been committed to stand trial for making a false document to obtain a St. Vincent and the Grenadines passport for a Guyanese national.

Williams, a vendor at the New Kingstown Market, was committed to stand trial following preliminary inquiries at the Serious Offences Court Monday morning.{{more}}

Williams and the Guyanese national, Leon Griffith, were jointly charged with making and using the false instrument on November sixteenth last year. However, the court found there was not enough evidence to support the charge of using the false instrument in respect of Williams.

Williams now faces trial only for making the false instrument, while Griffith faces trial for making and using the false instrument.

Both persons were charged after Griffith allegedly attempted to obtain a St. Vincent and the Grenadines passport using a passport form and a St. Vincent and the Grenadines birth certificate bearing the name Jason Mc Lennon Williams.

According to information received, the name Jason Mc Lennon Williams is the son of Sharon Carlene Benjamin, who is also known as Beverly Williams.

Defence lawyer Arthur Williams told the court that the matter could be sent on to the High Court as early as next week when the February sitting of the criminal assizes begins. He also said that Griffith would plea guilty to the charges and he would offer mitigating factors.