ROY Sharma, charged with obtaining money by false pretence, was yesterday remanded to prison overnight when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

Sharma, 59, of Lot ‘A’ Thorne Drive, D’Urban Backlands, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the offence said, between December 1 and 9, on Main Street, also in Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $200,000 from Narine Deokarran, by falsely pretending that he was in a position to secure a United States (U.S.) passport for him.

Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, successfully objected to bail for the taxi driver, stating that the crime seems to be a new form of employment for some people.

Sharma told the Court he was used to collect the money for someone else and was unaware of the transaction involved.

He said he paid back $50,000 to the virtual complainant on Wednesday but, when Deokarran attempted to inform Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters of the restitution, no one was answering the telephone.

Sharma said Deokarran, who hails from Berbice, is expected to be in Court today to receive the outstanding sum.