Thirty-six-year-old Maria Campbell of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was yesterday remanded to prison when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court accused of obtaining $1 million from a man for whom she had promised to acquire an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) when she knew that she wasn’t in a position to do so.

The gold miner pleaded guilty to the charge of obtaining money by false pretence when Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson read it to her.

The charge alleged that between April 12 and 15, with intent to defraud, she obtained $1 million from Mark Grannum, property of Andrews Marks, by falsely pretending that she was in the position to obtain an ATV for Marks when she knew that was false.

Prosecutor Stephen Telford stated that she and Grannum had developed a business relationship since they would usually transact business together and in April, Marks who knows Grannum asked him for assistance in obtaining an ATV.

He said that Grannum then introduced Marks to Campbell who was supposed to get the vehicle but after handing over the money he never saw Campbell again. Marks later made a report to the police station.

Campbell was later arrested and charged.

Campbell, in her own defence, stated that she was willing to compensate Marks for the money that she had collected.

The magistrate then ordered that she be remanded to prison and that she appear again in court on June 2 with the money to recompense Marks.