A St Joseph man was granted bail in the sum of $75,000 when he appeared before a Justice of the Peace this week, charged with obtaining laptops valued at $65,400 by false pretences.

Joseph Cain, 43, a businessman, of Piccadilly Street, was charged with the offence, when he appeared before JP Stephen Young at the Besson Street Police Station on Monday.

He was granted bail and the matter adjourned to December 17th.

The victim told police that last Thursday he sold a quantity of laptops valued at $65,400 to a customer who effected payment by way of a cheque. The cheque was accepted as a good order of payment and the customer left with the items.

On Friday, the victim was informed by his bank that the cheque was fraudulent and a report was made to the Fraud Squad.

An investigation was launched into the matter, which led officers to a business place at 2nd Caledonia, Morvant, where a search was conducted.

The search resulted in 23 laptops of varying brands being found and subsequently positively identified by the victim as the items sold in the transaction.

The suspect, who was on the premises at the time of the search, was arrested in connection with the find.