A taxi driver on Friday admitted to fraudulently converting $708,000 entrusted to him for delivery to someone else, to his own use and was remanded to prison after the court heard that some of the money was already repaid while arrangements were being made to repay the rest.
The charge against Simeon Davis, 34, of Corentyne, Berbice is that on August 14 at Georgetown, being solely entrusted with US$3390 equivalent to $708,000 Guyanese currency by Sundar Persaud in order to deliver the same to Deepak Ramsup, he fraudently converted it to his own use and benefit.
Davis pleaded guilty to the charge which was read to him by Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
According to the prosecution’s facts, Ramsup hails from Corriver-ton, Berbice while Persaud is from Alliance, Essequibo and they are business partners.
Police prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that the defendant operates a hire car from Springlands, Berbice to Georgetown on a daily basis and is known to both of the victims. On the day in question, Persaud came to Georgetown to meet the defendant and gave him the money mentioned in the charge to deliver to Ramsup. However, the money was never delivered. A report was made and Davis was subsequently arrested.
Davis told the court that his brother-in-law came from Berbice and repaid Deepak $360,000 and requested some time to pay the remainder. He further related after being questioned as to what he did with the money, that he was doing business with Ramsup and Persaud when he ran into difficulties and used the money.
After listening to both sides, the magistrate gave the defendant five days to repay the money or he will be sentenced to a prison term. The matter was adjourned to August 28.
