THE two men, who were allegedly involved in a COVID-19 medical scam, have been remanded to prison, Assistant Commissioner, Royston Andries-Junior, has said.

The men – Randy Persaud and Shiv Delchand – appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court on Monday, April 20, 2020. According to Assistant Commissioner Andries-Junior, the Regional Police Division Number Four (C) Commander, Persaud and Delchand were charged with the offence of an attempt to commit a felony to with obtaining money by false pretense on Tishana DeSouza.

According to the Assistant Commissioner, the accused were not required to plead to the indictment and were remanded to prison until June 9, 2020. Persaud and Delchand were arrested by ranks of the Cove and John Police Station on Thursday, April 16, 2020, even as they were allegedly attempting to solicit money from DeSouza to save her “ailing” relative in the U.S.

Tishana DeSouza, who lives in Victoria on the East Coast of Demerara, told the Guyana Chronicle that the suspected con artists contacted her family via telephone on April 16, 2020. They had alleged that her uncle, Kwesi DeSouza, who resides in the U.S, was infected with the coronavirus, and needed GYD$360,000 to pay for treatment.

The caller, who reportedly had a deep American accent, had introduced himself as Dr. Raj. He reportedly told DeSouza that the virus was in her uncle’s throat, and would travel to his lungs and kill him if he did not get the treatment within 36 hours.

Repeated calls by the self-professed doctor, who had arranged for part of the money to be picked up by his brother at a gas station in the village, caused DeSouza to become suspicious. And though she managed to confirm that her uncle was alive and well, DeSouza agreed to meet with the brother of the self-professed doctor. She also had her brother contact the police.

DeSouza stalled the alleged scammers, who were seated in a Toyota Fielder PWW 1446 parked a short distance away from the gas station, until the police arrived on the scene. They were immediately taken into custody. It is unclear, whether the fake doctor resides in Guyana or overseas, and how they identify their targets.

Another Victoria resident, Teacher Iola Jarvis, told the Guyana Chronicle that the alleged conmen had made contact with her one day before they were arrested. Jarvis fell prey to the con artists having been told that her brother in Canada was dying from COVID-19, and needed financial assistance to the tune of $200,000 for treatment.

According to the teacher, the suspects had bona fide information about her family, such as their names and details about where they live. They were strategic, Jarvis said, while disclosing that one of the conmen imitated her brother’s voice perfectly. Her brother has been living in Canada for more than 20 years, and they communicate, many a times via telephone.

It is alleged that the men had been soliciting monies from people on the East Coast of Demerara and other parts of the country for COVID-19 treatment. To date, more than four persons have reportedly stepped forward, indicating to the police that they have either given or were in the process of giving the alleged scammers monies for ‘COVID-19’ treatment to be given to their relatives.