Housing development planner Fazil Ramzan last Thursday had the eight obtaining money by false pretence charges against him dismissed.
Ramzan was accused of falsely pretending to a number of persons that he was in a position to build and make available to them complete two-bedroom houses at Sara Johanna, East Bank Demerara.
Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry presiding at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court informed that the matters were being dismissed after the police failed to provide sufficient evidence against the accused.
Additionally, the police failed to produce statements to authenticate the charges brought against Ramzan, stating that they were still conducting investigations.
After the matters were called on a number of occasions, the police had still not submitted their statements leading to the dismissal of the matters.
Ramzan, 61, was remanded to prison after making his initial appearance before the acting chief magistrate. He was, however, subsequently granted bail in the High Court to the tune of $125,000.
On May 17, Ramzan appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was read the allegation which stated that between June 30, 2009 and December 24, 2009, he obtained by false pretence $2M from Albert Grant, purporting to show that he was in a position to build and make available a complete 2-bedroom house at Sara Johanna, East Bank Demerara, within six months. It was also alleged that the accused committed three similar offences, obtaining by false pretence $460,000 from Norma Cartwright, $500,000 from Latisha Zonat, and $423,500 from Edwin Clarke, on December 4, 2008, July 9 and January 27, 2010, and July 3, 2008, respectively.
Then on May 19 four additional false pretence charges were levelled against Ramzan which stated that between April 1 and September 1, 2008 he obtained the sum of $3M and $423,600 from George Grant and Antoinette Lewis respectively by falsely pretending that he was in a position to build and make available complete two-bedroom houses for them at Sara Johanna, East Bank Demerara.
Between January 12 and April 20, 2009 the accused was alleged to have obtained from Keon Myers the sum of $830,000 by falsely pretending that he was in a position to build and make available a complete two-bedroom house for the said Myers at Sara Johanna.
Finally on April 29, 2010 Ramzan was accused of obtaining $600,000 from Joyce Persaud by falsely pretending to her that he was in a position to build and make available to her a complete two-bedroom house at Sara Johanna.
