An accused fraudster with multiple charges before Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts pleaded not guilty Monday to an account of a fraudulent conversion of some $ 7 million.
Micah Sonaram, 24, of Flying Fish Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, made his appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
The charge read to the accused fraudster, on November 4, 2020, at North Road, Bourda, Georgetown, wholly trusted by Steve De Costa, indicated that he converted $ 7 million acquired by De Costa into the purchase of an excavator.
Initially, the charge was indictable, however, after the prosecutor’s request for summary disposition, the defendant was required to plead.
Sonaram’s defense attorney, Latchmie Rahamat, further, in her bail application, told the court that the charges brought before her client were invalid.
He added that he made a previous court appearance on March 15 for the exact charge that was considered a false excuse. In that regard, he asked the Magistrate for nominal bail for Sonaram and for additional facts relating to the charge.
Meanwhile, a police prosecutor told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had asked for the first matter to be closed since Sonaram was initially charged under the wrong Section of the Criminal Law (Crimes) Act.
Further, he explained that the current charge against the defendant was the same issue as a corrected classification.
Sonaram was ordered to post bail totaling $ 50,000 and is due to return to court on May 10.
On March 24, Sonaram was slapped with three counts of fraudulent conversion, when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
The first charge had alleged that between November 19, 2020, and December 29, 2020, in Georgetown, fully trusted by Mohamed Ahmad, he had converted $ 3.5 million obtained from Mohamed Ahmad to buy a motor vehicle, knowing that false.
In addition, it was also alleged that between November 29 and January 2, 2021, at Georgetown, being fully entrusted by Mohamed Ahmad, he converted $ 3 million obtained from Mohamed Ahmad to buy a miner, knowing the same was false .
It was further alleged that, between December 2, 2020, and December 11, 2020, in Georgetown, being fully entrusted by Mohamed Ahmad, he converted $ 2 million obtained from Mohamed Ahmad to buy an excavator, knowing the same was false .
Sonaram was not required to plead to the indictable charges and was given $ 20,000 bail on each charge.