A former Swiss House Cambio cashier accused of converting the sum of US$13,000 to his own use was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on January 26 in Georgetown, Patrick Pompey, 50, of J21-965 Critchlow Street, Tucville, Georgetown, being solely entrusted by Lisa Slater with the sum of US$13,000, equivalent to $2.6M, to convert to Guyana dollars for the said Lisa Slater, converted it to his own use.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge of fraudulent conversion when it was read to him by the magistrate.
When given a chance to respond, the defendant told the court, “This is a phase I must go through and I will endure. I know nothing about this charge.”
The virtual complainant told the court, however, that she never expected that the defendant who had been doing foreign currency exchange for her for the past two years would have converted her money to his own use.
“My worship he is no stranger to me and I never expected that he would have ever done something like this to me,” the woman who identified herself as a “stay-at-home mom,” said.
The virtual complainant explained to the court that her daughter’s father would usually send money for her from the United States and Pompey would normally stop by her home and uplift the money to be converted into Guyana currency.
On this occasion, Slater said, after Pompey had collected her money he never returned. She added that whenever she called to enquire about the money the defendant would tell her, “someone will contact you.” Slater said that no one has ever contacted her nor has she received her money.
Pollard was remanded to prison. He was ordered to return to Court Two on July 30 for statements.
