| Pulmattie Ramjatan, with her counsel Gregory Gaskin, appeared before acting Chief Magistrate, Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer to the charge of obtaining by false pretence.Police Sergeant, Lionel Harvey, who is prosecuting the matter, told the court that on February 14, at Campbellville, Georgetown, the accused obtained a quantity of items valued $47,000 from D. Budhan and Daughter Variety Store knowing that she was not in a position to pay.Harvey went on to explain that on the day of the incident, at approximately 15:00 hrs the accused went to the said shop and ordered a quantity of goods. She then handed over $7000.The accused allegedly then requested that an employee of the store accompany her in a taxi to collect the outstanding sum. While in the taxi, the arrangement suddenly changed, when she told the employee that her husband had already paid his employer the money.After the employee returned to the store, he learnt that the woman’s claim was false. The matter was reported and the police launched an investigation.Only recently were investigating ranks able to locate the accused and she was arrested. To the charge Ramjatan pleaded not guilty.Her lawyer said that his client resides at 1015 Canefield, Canje, Berbice.Gaskin added that the accused was at home making breakfast for her family when she was apprehended by law enforcement officers.The accused, who is a mother of two minors, is a housewife.The lawyer stated that he does not see the need why the accused should not be granted her pre-trial liberty, due to the fact that she had no intention of fleeing the jurisdiction.He furthermore said that the court should not rely on the high drama the allegation has been receiving in the media.“There has been a lot of nap play from the media surrounding the allegation to which my client is charged.”Gaskin said that an image was published in the press purporting to be a woman who was wanted in connection with several frauds but that the police never requested that his client was wanted for questioning in relation to those allegation.That being said, prosecutor Harvey interjected and told the court that the police had been making several vigorous attempts to locate the suspect.Harvey, moreover, explained that there is the likelihood that numerous other charges will be instituted against Ramjatan.He informed the Magistrate that officers were presently waiting at the court to take the accused into custody at East Coast Demerara,Asics Kayano 23 Pas Cher, where she will be slapped with charges similar in nature.The prosecutor objected to bail, citing the fact that if the accused is released she will not report for her trial.Gaskin nevertheless in his bid to secure the accused pre-trial liberty pleaded with the court for mercy.After listening to a lengthy submission by Gaskin, Magistrate Beharry allowed the accused bail in the sum of $50,000, on condition that she report to the Alberttown Police Station every Monday and Friday at 11:00 hours.The matter was made returnable for February 28.The accused was then whisked away by police ranks to the Turkeyen Police Station where she will remain until Monday to face other charge.Kaieteur News was told earlier last in the week that attempts had been made by the accused to settle some of the matters, but a number of business persons who complained to police, were not budging.Only one business, D. Budhan and Daughter from Campbellville, had initially come forward.The woman was captured on surveillance cameras when she visited there last month.The woman would visit mostly groceries and place an order.A number of the grocers and businessmen claimed that in all cases, the woman claimed that she did not have enough money. She would claim that her family owns a stall “around the corner” or in Bourda market, as was done in one case. Another stall holder at Skeldon Market said that the woman had been taken before Berbice police for a similar matter but had never settled the matter as was promised.“She keep playing sick and coming up with excuses.”According to police in Berbice, while the woman has remained silent, her husband revealed that she would normally go to the city and “buy groceries”. He claimed that he did not know that his wife was involved in anything illegal.However, when shown the image of the woman in the newspaper report, he was convinced that it was indeed his wife.The couple was escorted to the Fort Wellington Police Station, where they were handed over to police from the city and subsequently escorted to Georgetown. |
