A businessman who allegedly obtained over $11 million from two persons by promising to import heavy duty equipment for them was on Monday granted bail in the sum of $300,000.
Micah Sonaram, of 2273 Flying Fish Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in a Georgetown court, where the charges were read to him.
Sonaram pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stated that between October 24th, 2020, and January 21st, 2021, at George-town, he received $3,744,000, from Clive Jordan to purchase and deliver an excavator, a Honda ATV and excavator parts but failed to do so and instead converted the money to his own use and benefit.
It is also alleged that between November 3rd, 2020, and Jan-uary 12th, 2021, at Georgetown, he received $7,700,000 from June Ann Daniels to purchase and deliver an excavator but instead failed to do so and converted the money to his own use and benefit.
Following his not-guilty pleas, the magistrate granted Sonaram bail in the sum of $150,000 on each charge and ordered him to return to court on March 15th, when the matter will be called again.
According to the case against him, Sonaram is the registered owner of “PARTZONE GY Inc., located at North Road, Lacy-town, Georgetown and involved in the import and sale of both new and refurbished heavy duty machinery.
It was further noted that Sonaram uses social media to advertise his business, and it was on the Facebook platform that Jordan and Daniels became aware of his services.
Jordan made contact with Sonaram and subsequently made a down payment of $3,744,000 to be used to purchase the items mentioned in the charge, with the agreement being that the items were to arrive in Guyana within a 30-day period after the down payment was made.
Sonaram allegedly later indicated to Jordan that the items were at a city wharf and ready to be uplifted. However, they were never delivered to him. Sonaram reportedly vowed to refund the amount of cash given to him but failed to do so. The matter was reported and hence the charge.
Further, Daniels also met with the Sonaram and handed over a down payment of $7,700,000 for the purchase of the items indicated in the charge. She also received a receipt for the money paid.
Daniels was also told that the item was at a city wharf but the accused failed to deliver and she, too, was promised a refund of her money. She did not receive it. She also made a report to the police.
Meanwhile, the court heard that the accused is being investigated for similar reports made against him.
Sonaram in 2017 was brought before a city court and granted bail after being read three fraud charges, after he allegedly obtained a total of $5,825,000 from his friends through false pretense.
The first charge alleged that Sonaram, between October 1, 2017 and October 31, 2017, at Georgetown, fraudulently obtained $5,500,000 from two minors by falsely pretending that he was in a position to import a motor pickup vehicle, knowing same to be false.
It is unclear what the outcome of those proceedings were.
