Motor vehicles scam…
ROBERT Allan Gates, who faced 13 charges recently in a motor vehicles scam was slapped with five more yesterday.
Gates, 53, of Lot 30 Seaforth Street, Campbellsville, Georgetown, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson and was not required to plead to the indictable offences, particulars of which said: * on April 3, with intent to defraud he obtained $200,000 from Andy Brisport, by falsely pretending that he was in a position to acquire a motor car, knowing same to be false;
* between May 24 and June 30, he obtained $660,000 from Lester Cummings under the same pretext;
* on June 2, he, similarly, obtained $400,000 from Roshell McKenzie;
* on June 3, he took $300,000 from Clarence Jordan and
* on June 29, he obtained $400,000 from Anita Singh.
Defence Counsel Jourwar Masir submitted that the amount of money involved should not interfere with the pre-trial liberty of the accused.
The lawyer said all the virtual complainants entered into legal contracts and paid money as part of the process to acquire the automobiles.
Masir maintained that Gates tried to get good quality merchandise at a cheap cost but the delivery took a while.
He contended that the arrangements are of a private and commercial nature and should not be treated as criminal matters.
Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, objecting to the bail grant pointed to the prevalence of the offences and the likelihood of the accused fleeing the jurisdiction.
The Prosecutor requested and was granted a two weeks adjournment for the investigations to be completed and to obtain advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The cases will be called again on September 21, until then Gates remains a remanded prisoner.