A 27-year-old former police officer has been charged with money laundering and uttering a forged document after allegedly encashing a $17 million cheque drawn on a magistrates' court account.

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) said Omari James, a labourer and former member of the Guyana Police Force, of Lot 1562, Farm Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was charged with money laundering and uttering a forged document with intent to defraud.

SOCU said investigations found that on August 20, 2025, James presented a Bank of Guyana cheque for $17 million at Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited's Camp Street branch and received the sum in cash. The cheque was drawn on the maintenance account of the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates' Court and purported to pay for rehabilitation works at the court.

James also presented an official letter purportedly issued and signed by the Clerk of Court. Investigators allege the letter and the signature on the cheque were forged.
The money laundering charge is contrary to Section 3(1)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, Chapter 10:11. The forgery charge is contrary to Section 277 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

James appeared on Monday before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at Court No. 3 of the Georgetown Magistrates' Court and pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The prosecution objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offences, the amount involved and the penalties prescribed by law. The magistrate nonetheless granted bail of $400,000 for both charges.

The matter was adjourned to November 16 for disclosure of the prosecution's evidence. Attorney-at-Law Darin Chan prosecuted for SOCU, while James was unrepresented.