A man, who claimed he was in a position to fast-track a land application at the Ministry of Central Housing and Planning Authority, was yesterday charged with fraud and released on $150,000 bail.
Twenty-six-year-old Steve Roy Munroe, a plumber of Atlantic Gardens, Georgetown, made his appearance yesterday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennon where the charge was read to him.
It is alleged that Munroe on May 19th 2022 at Brickdam, with intent to defraud took the sum of $400,000 from Samuel Seargobin by falsely pretending he was in a position to obtain a plot of land for the said Seargobin from the Ministry of Housing.
The court heard that Seargobin had made a report to the police on September 16th of last year stating that he was told by Munroe that if he (Seargobin) paid him the sum of $400,000 he will fast-track his application for a plot of land at the Ministry of Housing. The virtual complaint said complied.
Additionally, on December 12th of 2022 after a detailed investigation was carried, the police prosecutor said that ranks made contact with the accused and told him of the allegation brought against him to which he denied and said that he had only received $300,000 from Seargobin.
The charge was then instituted against him.
The unrepresented Munroe pleaded not guilty to the offence and was released on bail with the condition that he report to the Criminal Investigation Depart-ment (CID) Headquarters on Vlissengen Road every Friday at 9pm. The matter was then adjourned until March 8th.
