A Plaisance couple is seeking to recover $700,000 which they handed over to an accused fraudster as a down payment for a minibus, which was never delivered as promised.
The husband and wife reported the suspected con to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is currently seeking the accused fraudster, Devindra Moteeram, who also uses the aliases Vickash Singh and Richard, 24, of East La Penitence, Georgetown.
According to the wife, who asked that she and her husband not be named, on Friday, November 4, they handed over the sum of $700,000 to Moteeram, whom she said was a friend of her husband. Moteeram was acting as the middleman for someone who claimed was selling a mini bus for $1.8 million.
They were told that the person was willing to accept a down payment of $300,000 followed by monthly installments of $50,000 until the bus was paid for.
The wife said they went and saw the bus on four different occasions at two different locations, North Ruimveldt and a place on the West Demerara. She said two mechanics accompanied them to check the bus and they both found that it was in good working condition.
According to the wife, after the cash was handed over to Moteeram, he promised the couple that the following Monday he would be handing over the documents for the bus and the vehicle.
However, when the day arrived, her husband tried calling Moteeram to inquire about the promised transaction but the man did not answer his phone. She said her husband also contacted someone who identified himself as “Mr. Khan” and claimed to be the owner of the bus and he claimed that the bus and the documents would be handed over by Thursday. The claimed owner also said the bus was taken to a mechanic to change the key switch and the transmission, which had been damaged.
When the new day arrived for the handover, Moteeram called her husband and informed him that he would return some of the money received for the down payment as he was not getting through to Mr. Khan.
It was at that point that frustrated husband told Moteeram that “either you give me the bus or all of my money back.” Moteeram hung the phone up and that was the last time the couple heard from him.
Fortunately, Moteeram was spotted by the husband last Wednesday morning on Church Street, between Cummings and East Street, after the husband saw Moteeram’s vehicle. He approached him and asked for his money. Moteeram reportedly said he would bring some of the money the same afternoon but the husband was unmoved and indicated that he wanted all of his money back and not just some. Moteeram asked the husband to give him a minute as he was going to hand someone some documents.
The husband said that Moteeram went to another car and stood there for about ten minutes before entering it and getting away. As a result, the angry husband later let air out of the tyres from Moteeram’s vehicle, which was left parked on the street.
The wife further stated that when her husband went to the address where the bus had been parked, a man emerged and told him the bus belonged to him and he wasn’t aware of the sale. The owner did say he knew Moteeram, who used to work for him.
The couple then made a report to the CID.
The wife said she wants the public to know what the young man is doing and wants him to know she wants her money back.
Moteeram was among five persons who were accused of forging several cheques to the value of $19.4 million in the name of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). They were charged with the offences last year. He was released on bail.
