A forty-seven-year-old woman who reportedly obtained $170,000 from another woman by pretending that she was in a position to sell and register a motorcycle in the woman’s name was granted bail this week when she appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Shellon De Cruz of 236 Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt, pleaded not guilty to the charge of obtaining money by false pretence.

It is alleged that on October 27 last year, De Cruz obtained $170,000 from Roselyn Paul under the pretext that she was in a position to sell her a motor-scooter and register it in her name.

Paul, who was also present in court, stated that she was interested in purchasing a motor-scooter from De Cruz but said that she did not have all the money at the time. She said that on the day in question she went to De Cruz with $170,000 and purchased the bike but  De Cruz told her that she did not have the relevant documents for it. Paul said that she and De Cruz then went to the Licence Office but they were unable to do the transaction.

Paul said that sometime after she asked De Cruz to refund her the money but  the defendant informed her that she could not do  so since she did not have it.

Meanwhile, De Cruz stated that Paul went to her and asked to purchase a motor-scooter at $170,000 instead of the $200,000 at which it was initially priced. She said that Paul returned the next day with $168,000 and she informed her that she did not have the documents for the bike.

She noted that Paul used the bike regularly although she did not have the documents. She said that when Paul asked for her money back she said that she only had $150,000 in her possession and  she had offered that but Paul declined to accept it.

The prosecution made no objection to De Cruz’s bail application.

The magistrate subsequently granted bail in the sum of $75,000 and ordered that De Cruz return to court on April 16.