FIFTY-six-year-old Sandra Rampersaud of Lot 2 Highbury, East Bank Berbice, allegedly obtained USD$21,574 from her overseas-based niece by falsely pretending that she was in a position to obtain for her acres of rice lands, house lots and a stall in the New Amsterdam market.

The woman, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of obtaining money by false pretence before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus , was placed on $100,000 bail after her lawyer Ian Anamayah informed the court that steps are being made to recover the sum.
The virtual complainant Chetranie Rampersaud, a home care worker, of New York, migrated to the United States of America in April 1991.
During December 2008 , while engaging in a telephone conversation with her paternal aunt, the [ the VC] expressed an interest in purchasing houselots, rice lands and a stall in the New Amsterdam Market.
After being told that the lands and stall had been located, the virtual complainant commenced sending varying sums of monies via money transfer as of September 21, 2010 .
After sending specified sums intermittently, the defendant would acknowledge receipt of the sums ranging from USD$50 – 2000, totalling G$ 4,314,600.
However, on August 7, 2014, Chetranie Rampersaud arrived in Guyana, and failed to make contact with the defendant, although telephone calls were made, and visits were made to her home.
Subsequently, a visit was made to the office of the Central Housing Department,where the complainant was told that her aunt had never purchased any land in her name .
Consequently, Rampersaud proceeded to the Central Police Station where she filed a report, after which charges were instituted.
The case has been fixed for statements and fixture on September 30.