A man was yesterday charged with defrauding a woman of over $100,000 by posing as a Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport scout for young aspiring chess players.
Roy Sharma, 62, of Charlotte Street was granted bail in the sum $150,000 by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, after a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
It was alleged that on September 12, in Orealla, Sharma, with the intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $133,000 from Annette Coppin, by claiming that he was in a position to get a visa to United States for her to see her nephew play in an international chess tournament.
Coppin explained that Sharma went to Orealla posing as an official of the Sport Ministry and that he trained young individuals to improve themselves in the field of chess. She explained that he told her he could get her and her nephew visas to the United States, where he would play chess on an international stage.
Coppin further stated that he requested $133,000 to have the visa processed. After one of her family members raised an alarm, Coppin travelled to Georgetown to find out about the tournament. She added that when she arrived at the ministry, she was informed that there was no person by the name she provided who was collaborating with the ministry with regard to travel abroad and she was advised to report the matter.
Sharma initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, but after the magistrate granted him bail in the sum of $250,000, he requested to have his plea changed. The charge was then re-read and he pleaded guilty.
Sharma said that a visa application processing fee costs $33,000, while the remaining $100,000 was a “safety” fee.
He later explained that he could compensate Coppin with $50,000 to end the matter, but he never promised her to get the visa for the said amount.
The magistrate, after hearing Sharma’s explanation, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
The prosecution had no objection to bail but requested a substantial amount.
Bail was set in the sum of $150,000 and the matter was transferred to court 2 for reports and fixtures.
