TAXI driver Imram Bacchus appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell yesterday, charged with obtaining money under false pretence. The 28-year-old defendant, of Lot 45 Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the offence, particulars of which said, between May 12 and 16, with intent to defraud, he obtained US$11,000 from Rohanie Sooklall by falsely pretending that he was in a position to obtain a genuine United States (U.S.) visa for her, knowing it to be false.
Police Corporal Kerry Bostwick, prosecuting, said the defendant and the virtual complainant were in a line at the U.S. Embassy where they had a conversation, during which they exchanged telephone numbers.
The prosecutor said the defendant made contact with the virtual complainant, subsequently, telling her, he can acquire a U.S. visa for her at the cost of US$11,000 and the money was handed over to him.
But after the virtual complainant did not hear from the defendant for sometime, she made a report and an investigation led to his arrest.
The prosecutor had no objection to bail but requested that the defendant report, every Friday, to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at 08:00 hrs.
Bacchus was ordered to post $200,000 surety and return to court on November 6.