A DISHONEST man who is currently serving an eight-year sentence at the Mazaruni Prison was on Wednesday arraigned before Magistrate Leron Daly, charged with impersonating First Lady Sandra Granger and conning women.

Mohammed Ali is charged with three counts of obtaining money by false pretence. It is alleged that on April 23 at Triple K Gas Station at Mahaica, he obtained from Beverly Harris 12 pennyweights of raw gold valued at $139,000 by falsely pretending that he was in a position to grant her a scholarship knowing same to be false.
It is further alleged that on April 22 at Mahdia, Region Eight, he obtained $20,000 worth of GTT phone cards and $10,000 in Digicel Cards from Harris under the same pretence.
It is also alleged that Ali between April 1 and April 30 at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, obtained $30,000 worth in phone cards from Basmattie Singh by falsely pretending that he could grant her a scholarship, knowing same to be false.

Ali pleaded guilty to the charge, but explained that he did not use the identity of the First Lady. However, he would be delighted if he could be granted an audience with her.
Magistrate Daly, based upon Ali’s explanation in court, entered a not- guilty plea on all of the charges.
The matter was adjourned until December 21, when it will be recalled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.