Man accused of forging dead man’s signature in $50M property sale

A man of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown was on Wednesday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in that Georgetown Magistrate’s court to answer an allegation that he had forged the signature of a dead man to acquire a property valued at $50 million.
Marlus Hendricks, 42, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on July 17, 2019, in Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he forged a document to make an agreement of sale purporting to be signed by the late Antoine Charles, knowing same to be forged.
Hendricks was released on $30,000 bail and instructed to make his next court appearance on February 16.
The Police Prosecutor told the court that Hendricks and the late Antoine Charles had agreed to sell for $50M a property located at Lots 39-46 High and Princes Streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.
Hendricks is claiming that he paid the asking price for the property, but when Charles passed away on July 2, 2020, his son noticed that the signature on the agreement of sale was not his father’s. As a result, a report was made to the Police, investigations were carried out, and Hendricks was arrested and charged.
Defence lawyer Clevon Humphrey told Magistrate McLennan that the matter concerning the sale of the property is currently engaging the attention of the High Court. According to the lawyer, the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions is reportedly aware of two Government analyst reports confirming the authenticity of the agreement of sale. Humphrey, therefore, asked that the DPP reconsider the charge. (G1)