BERBICE businessman Haresh Narine Sugrim, 58, of Lot 5 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, was yesterday ordered to post $1M bail after he pleaded not guilty to obtaining money by false pretence, before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

Particulars of the offence said, on October 8, 2008, with intent to defraud, the defendant obtained $10M from Kennard Gobin, by falsely pretending that he had sold him a 320B excavator.

Defence Counsel Anil Nandlall said Sugrim owns several businesses and is an importer of heavy duty equipment.

The lawyer argued that it is a civil, not criminal matter. But Police Inspector Denise Griffith, prosecuting, maintained that the case is in the right place because the defendant sold the machine under the pretext that it was a 320B.

Nandlall said the allegation resulted from the virtual complainant wanting to purchase an excavator, for which purpose he took along a mechanic, after whose examination he was satisfied with the deal.

Defence Counsel said, after months of using the machine, Gobin is now accusing Sugrim of fraud and sent him a lawyer’s letter, claiming it is unfit to work.

Nandlall contended that the Police are being used to put pressure on Sugrim but the fabricated charge will, ultimately, fail when the issue goes to trial.

Gobin, who was in the courtroom, said he wanted to buy a 320B but the defendant sold him an old ‘320 flat’ excavator and painted 320B on it.

The purchaser said he never used the machine because of problems with it and the defendant had agreed to give him another one.

Gobin said the promise caused him not to follow up on the transaction but, on checking the Customs documentation, it showed that he had bought a 320 flat.
The case has been transferred to another Court for July 10.