A 45-year-old Marathon resident was yesterday arraigned on nearly 40 counts of fraud.

Errol Knowles still has to be charged with another 30, making a total of 70 counts.

Court dockets indicate that between April 30 and July 24, the Isabelle Boulevard resident received up to $32,000 worth of goods and cash by way of fraudulent cheques.

The accused allegedly wrote cheques to 15 local businesses including Bahama Paint, Nassau Glass, Kelly’s Lumber Yard, Paint Depot and Henry F. Storr Electric.

The cheques were as low as $77 dollars and went as high as over $3,385.

Knowles was consequently charged with several counts of possession of forged documents, uttering a forged document, forge by fraud pretences and attempted fraud.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges, but his attorney Glendon Rolle had an issue with one of them namely, conspiracy to commit fraud.

Mr. Rolle said to be charged with conspiracy, one must be involved with another.

But his client was being charged alone.

Acting Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt agreed and told the prosecution that the charge should be thrown out.

The prosecution however objected to bail, but Magistrate Pratt-Ferguson said this could not be done without an affidavit.

The case has been adjourned to 2:30 p.m. today, after which, Knowles is expected to be arraigned on the remainder of his charges.