Boat captain blamed piracy for fraudulent conversion
A BOAT captain who claimed that he was attacked by pirates appeared in court yesterday on a fraudulent conversion charge. Before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, Avinash Singh (no address given) pleaded not guilty to committing the offence between January 30 and February 8.
Particulars of the charge said Singh, being solely entrusted, by Roger Mankikam, with a number of items, valued $363,100, to keep safe,  fraudulently converted them to his own use and benefit.
Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey, prosecuting, said the virtual complainant left the defendant on a vessel with the articles but returned to find him and the things missing.
The prosecutor said, subsequently, Singh was seen selling the merchandise but, when arrested, he told police he was the victim of pirates but an investigation proved that to be false.
Singh was placed on $125,000 bail until February 15.