A seaman who failed to purchase building materials with the money given to him for that purpose and instead used it for his own benefit was yesterday given a day to get the money or face jail.
Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle offered the deal to 20-year-old Andrew Edwards of Lot 169 First Field, Caneville, East Bank Demerara after he promised to get the money by the end of the day.
Edwards appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and pleaded guilty to a charge of fraudulent conversion.
On January 2 at Sophia, Edwards collected $134,000 from Patricia Carter to purchase building materials and return same to her. After, Carter never saw him or the building materials she made a report to the police.
Close to tears, Edwards told the court that he used the money to pay off a debt.
He repeatedly sought mercy from the court and begged to be released so he could work to repay Carter the money. Carter, who was present, stressed to the court that she needed to have her money back.
The magistrate then asked Edwards how long he would need to accumulate the money and he responded “until afternoon”.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to today when Edwards is expected to have the money to repay the woman.
