Omari James, a 26-year-old labourer and former police officer of Farm Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was remanded to prison today after being charged with multiple counts of forgery and attempting to obtain money through fraudulent means.
The charges stem from an incident on September 25, 2025, when James allegedly entered the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Diamond branch and attempted to withdraw $35 million using forged documents.
According to police, James presented a National Identification Card and a Guyana Driver’s Licence—both bearing his photograph but issued under the name “Shameer Ali” with a date of birth listed as August 25, 1989. He also submitted a GBTI withdrawal slip for the same alias, requesting the $35 million transaction.
The bank teller, upon receiving the documents, referred them to a supervisor. Further checks revealed discrepancies between the submitted identification and the bank’s records—specifically, a mismatch in the date of birth and a different photograph associated with the genuine Shameer Ali.
As a result, James was arrested and later charged with the following offences:
Two (2) counts of Uttering a Forged Document, contrary to Section 245(b) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 08:01
One (1) count of Uttering a Forged Document, contrary to Section 277 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 08:01
One (1) count of Demanding Money upon a Forged Instrument, contrary to Section 278(b) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 08:01
James appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where the charges were formally read to him. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was subsequently remanded to prison.
The case has been adjourned until October 31, 2025.
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