Fraud Investigators from the National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) of the RSIPF have arrested and charged a 35 year old woman from Barasipo village, Vonavona Lagoon in the Western province, for allegedly defrauding her relative's bank account with one of the commercial banks in Honiara.
The incident allegedly occurred on November 2006 when the accused and her two sons visited the complainant in Honiara. The complainant's bank access card went missing after the short visit.On 6 December 2006, the complainant discovered discrepancies and suspicious transactions with her bank account balance. The matter was reported to the Police and an investigation was conducted in relation to the report.
The investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly forged a cheque payable to one of the commercial banks at Noro in Western Province on 4 December 2006 and withdrew a large amount of money.
After conducting a thorough investigation into the report and with substantial evidence police arrested the woman in Honiara.
The accused was taken in for questioning at the Fraud Office at the Police Headquarters during which she admitted to have forged the signature and had withdrawn the large amount of money from the bank account.
The 35-year-old woman was charged with one count of Forgery contrary to section 336 (1) (c) of the Penal Code and was granted bailed on the sum of SBD $1,000 to appear at the Honiara Magistrate's court on 11 April 2011.
The maximum penalty for such offence (Forgery) is seven years imprisonment.