Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Two men were freed in the Linstead Resident Magistrate's (RM) Court of fraud charges on Wednesday after the Crown offered no evidence against them.

Those freed are Maxwell Barnes and Jason Thompson both of Linstead, St Catherine.

When the matter came up before RM Natalee Brooks, the men were told that they were free.

This followed a submission by attorney-at-law Donovan St. L Williams that his clients have had six trial dates and the Crown has failed to proceed.

His submission was upheld by the court.

RM Brooks also ordered that the police return two cellular phones to the accused.

Allegations are that in March 24 last year the accused went to a financial institution to encash a cheque valued at $700,000.

The document was properly checked and found to be fictitious and the police was summoned.

Following investigations, both were charged with attempting to obtain money by means of false pretence, uttering forged documents and conspiracy.

They had made numerous court appearances and the matter failed to get started.