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A MAN is in the dock for allegedly using counterfeit banknotes in Bahrain.
The 23-year-old Pakistani, who appeared at the High Criminal Court, however, said he did not know that the 500 Saudi riyal currency notes in his possession were counterfeit.
He told judges that he brought the banknotes with him from Pakistan and used them in Bahrain, but was unaware that they were fake.
The incident occurred this year, according to case files.
“During Ramadan, the defendant came into the store and purchased items worth BD6 and handed over 500 Saudi Riyals to pay for the products,” said a 45-year-old Bangladeshi store keeper, in a statement to the Public Prosecution.
“I gave him BD44 in change but I didn’t check the banknote until later that day.
“Once I discovered it was fake, I destroyed it and threw it away.
“A week later, he came back to buy more items for BD6 and handed over another 500 Saudi Riyal and I took a quick glance at it and realised it was also counterfeit.
“I asked him to wait in the store, but he tried to run away so I caught him and called the police.”
Meanwhile, a 39-year-old Bangladeshi coldstore employee told the Public Prosecution that the defendant bought rice for BD3.500 and handed over the counterfeit 500 Saudi Riyal.
He said he called his brother to check the legitimacy of the banknote.
“I suspected the banknote was not original and so I called my brother to check and that is when the defendant got nervous,” said the 39-year-old.
“He ran out of the store with his slippers flying off.”
The case has been adjourned to Thursday for review and for lawyers to present a defence while keeping the defendant in custody.
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