Woman who received Presidential Pardon from Granger charged for fraud

A woman who had received a Presidential Pardon from former President David Granger in 2017 has been taken before Senior Magistrate Dylon Bess to answer charges of fraud and forgery.

Khemawattie Ramnauth of 51 Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara appeared before Georgetown Magistrate Dylon Bess to answer a charge detailing that, between February 20, 2020 and August 24, 2020, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she obtained $6.5M from Brian Perreira by falsely pretending that her name is Latchmin Shiwmabgal, the owner of a property situated at Block XXX, parcel 1107, part of South Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown, and she was in a position to sell it, knowing same to be false.
Another charge she faces detailed that between February 20, 2020 and October 5, 2021, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, she forged one United States of America passport, #454099867, in the name of Shirley Shiwmangal with a picture bearing her likeness, purporting to show that same was issued by the United States Department of State, knowing same to be forged.
The defendant denied the charges, and was placed on $3 million bail.
Short facts read in court stated that Perreira lodged a report at the Police station after he handed over the money to the woman and later discovered that she was not the rightful owner of the property.
Following investigations, Ramnauth was arrested with a forged American passport on her person.
In February 2017, former President David Granger granted Presidential Pardons to Ramnauth and several other women who were serving time at the New Amsterdam Prison for various offences. These Presidential Pardons were effective from February 23, 2017, in observance of the country’s 47th Republic anniversary.
“It is expected that this expression of compassion and humanity by His Excellency will result in families being re-united, and the pardoned offenders leading good and useful lives hereon,” a statement from the then Ministry of the Presidency had stated. (G1)