DEPUTY New Amsterdam Mayor Harold Dabydeen has come forward to debunk an article published in the Kaieteur News under the caption ‘Persons allege being fleeced by N/A M&TC official.’

Further, he is seeking an apology from the publishers of the offending article.

Mr Dabydeen, while responding to the matter in relation to Mrs. Kaisree Ramphal of Canefield, East Canje, the Power of Attorney for Mr. Balkarran Samaroo, said the matter was not a ‘Deed of Gift’, but it was in relation to the estate of Sookdeo Samaroo, who died on March 21, 2011.

Ms Ramphal had alleged that she had given the official $200,000 since 2011 to investigate and correct a Deed of Gift for a property at Number Six Village, West Berbice; but Dabydeen denied receiving any money from the woman on his own behalf, although he admitted that he had collected the sum in question on behalf of the now deceased Attorney-at-Law Frank Fraser.

“Kaishree Ramphal did approach me to have a probate and vesting of estate. She asked me to find out from Mr. Fraser, who at the time had instructed me to do the necessary things and to issue receipts on his behalf, and I forwarded everything to him,” Dabydeen said.

“He [Mr. Fraser] had commenced with the matter, which was filed in the High Court. I understand that the matter was stalled as the issue of a Deed of Gift had surfaced, one which was properly executed by the deceased person to another person. Subsequently, the Attorney-at-law died,” Dabydeen stated.

Displaying copies of the receipts issued, Dabydeen confessed that they were indeed issued by him, but insisted they were made on behalf of the late lawyer.

It was observed that the receipts were not signed on behalf of Fraser, as should have been done if the monies were for Fraser. It was detected that the receipts bore the lone name of Dabydeen, indicating that the monies may have been solely intended for him.

Responding to those observations, Dabydeen said the sums of money had been handed over to Fraser, who commenced his work.

Another complainant, Dhanmattie Jaikissoon of Lot 66 Alness Village, Corentyne, is alleging that she consulted Dabydeen after her mother died and left the family in a land dispute.

“He had to put in for a transport for me. He told me he would charge $180,000 and I would get the transport,” she claimed.

But the Deputy Mayor said he was brought to the consciousness of the article after a telephone call. Subsequently, he recalled contacting Dhamattie Jaiksoon, who denied ever speaking to the named reporter from Kaieteur News.

Nevertheless, the woman confessed to other reporters from the print media that she had indeed paid Dabydeen several sums of money over a ten-year period.

While she is still awaiting her transport, she is seeking a refund from Dabydeen. He currently owes her $100,000.

Dabydeen contends that the article written in the Kaieteur News is unprofessional, with the newspaper publishing slanderous statements about him collecting money fraudulently.