A man was yesterday charged with obtaining money by false pretence after he allegedly took the sum of $800,000 from a woman and then failed to deliver on a promise to get her a car.
Federick Jaundoo, 36, of 87 Block CC Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, was granted bail to the tune of $250,000 by acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson, after he was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Jaundoo, who is a driver, was not required to plead to the indictable charge.
It is alleged that on July 9 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, Jaundoo obtained $800,000 from Khamwattie Ramroop, by falsely pretending that he was in a position to acquire a car for her, knowing the claim to be false.
Attorney Mohamed Zafar, who entered an appearance for Jaundoo, told the court that Ramroop will have to prove that it was his client who had taken her money with the promise of getting her a car. He said Jaundoo advised him that he never collected money from Ramroop nor did he promise to get her a vehicle.
Zafar asked that his client be granted reasonable bail, on the grounds that he had no antecedents, posed no risk of flight, had a fixed place of abode, and had been cooperating with the police during the investigation.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford, however, objected to bail, charging that Jaundoo took the money from the woman after leading her to believe that he could supply her with a car. He said that Ramroop, in the presence of her husband, went to the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry and withdrew $800,000 and delivered same to Jaundoo for the car.
According to Telford, Jaundoo told Ramroop that he was going to have the car delivered to her in three months. But after making repeated calls to the accused in a bid to enquire about the vehicle, resulting in Jaundoo becoming verbally abusive, Telford said Ramroop made a report to the police. He also contended that Jaundoo was a flight risk.
Ramroop, meanwhile, told the court that she just wanted to be repaid. She said also that Jaundoo’s mother promised to make a payment of $200,000 compensation to her but failed to honour her word.
Telford’s request for Jaundoo to be remanded was denied and he was later placed on $250,000 bail. He was ordered to return to court on September 28.
