Tulsie Persaud, 30, of 4 Cemetery Road, Triumph Village and Simone King, 29, of Phase Two Good Hope, East Coast Demerara were not required to plead to the indictable charges.
It is alleged that between May 8 and May 22 of 2009, Persaud and King with the intent to defraud collected $920,000 from Seeram under the pretence that they could obtain a genuine United States visa for Nishan Gary Kam, knowing same to be false.
It is also alleged that between November 24 and December 4, 2009 with intent to defraud, the pair obtained $1.2 million from Angela Elizabeth Chung under the pretence of obtaining a genuine US visa, knowing same to be false.
In his bid for reasonable bail, attorney-at-law James Bond, representing both Persaud and King, told the court that the matters are private and the contention arose after sums of money borrowed were not fully paid.
He also showed the court a document which one of the virtual complainants, Chung, had signed and that supported his submission.
Bond went on to say that his clients never intended to defraud the VCs and pointed out that his clients are not flight risks and have strong ties to their communities.
Seeram told the court that the couple had given him a five-day visa for his nephew along with an air ticket. However, when his nephew went to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to depart he was told that his visa was not valid.
Chung told the court that she had been tricked into signing the document that Bond had presented in court. She said that she was told by the number two accused who also goes by the name Dianne De Nobrega that she needed to sign the document in relation to her visa. She said she later changed her mind about getting a visa and she now wants back the money she had paid the pair.
Police Prosecutor Inspector Stephen Telford told the court that an investigation is ongoing into the second name used by King. At this point Bond told the court that Dianne is King’s second name while De Nobrega is her maiden name which she uses since getting divorced.
After listening to the arguments, the magistrate denied bail for the pair. They are to return to court today where a third charge will be read to them.
