A twenty-seven-year-old man who had sold a man’s raw gold to pay for malaria treatment was placed on a bond to keep the peace for two years when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Aubrey Baird of Wortmanville pleaded guilty to the charge of fraudulent conversion.

On March 17 Baird was entrusted by Richard Hinds with two pennyweights of raw gold valued $16,000 for the purpose of delivering it to someone else but he fraudulently converted it to his own use and benefit.

However, Baird stated that Hinds had given him the raw gold to give to his mother but “he tell me either to sell it and give de money to he mother or give she de gold jus like dat.” He said that

Hinds had given him his mother’s address but when his search for her residence proved futile “I sell de gold to get money to pay fuh me malaria treatment since I deh sick.” He said that he had sold the gold for $7,700.

Hinds then stated that he did not wish to continue with the matter since he had been recompensed with $16,000 from Baird.

The magistrate subsequently placed Baird on a bond to keep the peace for two years.