A man accused of forging signatures on 65 cheques within a two-year period attempted to step away from a business after the scheme was discovered, Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday.

Peter Clark, 60, is accused of intending to present false cheques purportedly signed by another person as genuine, between January 2019 and June 2021 — a charge he denies.

Witness Andrew Smith told the court yesterday that he started KJ & K Security with Mr Clark in 2009.

He said the two men were friends and that the business was his idea from the outset.

The court was shown a partnership agreement which the two men signed in 2011.

“Me and Mr Clark had rapport, I considered him a friend — this is not out of spite, I do not have anything against Mr Clark,” Mr Smith said, adding: “It was a good combination to get business.”

He agreed with the defence that the two men each sourced security contracts for the company.

Mr Daniels suggested that in 2021, Mr Clark had intended to “step away” from the business, giving Mr Smith a chance to buy out his stake in firm, but Mr Smith said it had just been a suggestion.

Mr Daniels suggested another individual also expressed interest in buying into the firm, but Mr Smith said it came up after the discrepancies with the cheques were uncovered.

The court heard that some employees of the firm received payment in cash while others got paid through bank transfers, some of which were made by Mr Clark.

Earlier, the court heard that the men’s business relationship ended when the witness became aware of withdrawals from the company’s bank account with cheques bearing his signature.

Mr Smith told the court that he immediately contacted the bank when he observed the unusual withdrawals.

He said the bank was informed that Mr Clark had no authorisation to conduct any business on behalf of the firm.

He told the court that Mr Clark subsequently cosigned a document with his wife to absolve himself of the security firm.

Yesterday the court completed an examination of bank transaction records within the period when the forgeries allegedly occurred.

One of the cheques was written in the name of a Doris Brooks, a name Mr Smith said he had never heard.

The trial before Magistrate Auralee Cassidy continues.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding court cases. As we are legally liable for any libellous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers