Two individuals are facing charges of fraud in Amherst, Nova Scotia, following an alleged stolen cheque scheme totaling approximately $290,000. The suspects, aged 36 and 45, were apprehended earlier this week and detained pending a bail hearing scheduled for Friday in provincial court. They have been accused of fraud over $5,000 and possession of property acquired through illicit means.
One of the defendants was granted release under specific conditions, including surrendering his passport to authorities and providing $10,000 each from himself and his guarantor to secure his bail. The other individual remains in custody and is set to appear in court on Monday.
According to Inspector Tom Wood of the Amherst Police Department, the charges stem from the cashing of two stolen cheques at a financial institution late last year. The bank raised concerns after identifying discrepancies and promptly notified law enforcement. Inspector Wood explained that financial institutions typically communicate with each other regarding transactions to detect any fraudulent activities.
During the court proceedings, prosecutor Andy Melvin mentioned that the case is still actively under investigation, with a substantial amount of information being rapidly gathered.
For more news from Northern Nova Scotia, click here.
