Thirty-year-old Horatio Williams of Mes Delices, Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara, who was remanded to prison in May for the offence of attempting to commit a felony, appeared last week before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and was placed on $100,000 bail.
Williams was arrested on Monday, May 20, at the Ministry of Housing, Brickdam, on an allegation that he attempted to defraud another man of $250,000 as payment for a plot of land.
Williams appeared virtually via Zoom before the magistrate who placed him on bail with the condition that he reports to the Brickdam Police Station every other Friday. His next court appearance is on July 19.
According to the intended victim, 30-year-old Andrew ‘Alex’ Albert of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, on May 17, at about 10:00 hrs, he received a call from a man, who claimed his name was Sookram, a surveyor, working at the Ministry of Housing.
Albert said he was told by the man that he could get a low-income house lot worth $500,000 but would have to pay $250,000. The man further instructed Albert to meet him at the Ministry of Housing on Monday, May 20, at 10:00 hrs.
Albert further related that on May 20, at about 09:30 hrs, the man sent him an acknowledgment letter from the Central Housing and Planning Authority stating that he was allocated a house lot at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara.
As a result, Albert went to the Ministry of Housing where he pointed out the man to a police officer who arrested him.
At the time of his arrest, the police said, Williams had in his possession, the acknowledgment letter he had sent to Albert along with a receipt written in Albert’s name as payment for the house lot.
Another unnamed man of Gordon Street, Kitty, was also apprehended. When questioned, he said that he had met Williams about two months ago. He further related that he met him on Robb Street earlier that day and was asked to accompany him to the Ministry of Housing.
