THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD, Real Estate Agent, Shawn Waaldijk, of Lot 190 Duke Street, Kingston Georgetown, appeared Friday before Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman to answer a charge of obtaining money by false pretence.Particulars of this charge are that, on February 18, 2013 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained Gy$500,000 from Alicia Joseph by falsely pretending to be able to sell her lot number 1473 XXIV Buxton Village, East Coast Demerara, knowing his claim to be false.

The prosecution’s facts are that the virtual complainant’s (VC) uncle had introduced her to the defendant, since she had indicated an interest in purchasing a parcel of land. However, the accused took the VC to Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara, where he showed her a piece of land and told her it was Lot 1473 XXIV.

The VC agreed to buy the land, and the defendant told her he wanted $500,000 for same. She then went to a land surveyor’s office, and was told that the land belongs to someone else. She was also informed that the land described to her was situated at the back of Buxton and was not cultivated.

Represented by attorney-at-law, Mr. Paul Fung-a-fat, Waaldijk pleaded not guilty to the charge; and his attorney requested bail in a reasonable sum, stating that his client had been working as a real estate agent for 16 years.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant opposed bail on the ground that investigations are pending on other matters of a similar nature involving the defendant.

Nevertheless, Waaldjik was placed on $100,000 bail, and was told to return to Court on September 30.