Man charged with attempting illegal sale of house lot

A man charged with attempting to sell a house lot that he did not own to two different men was remanded to prison on Friday.

Michael Kirton, 61, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge of obtaining money by false pretence and forgery, when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

He denied that on February 8, at King Street, with intent to defraud, he obtained $105,000 from Shawn Waaldift, by falsely pretending that he was the owner of a House lot at Lot 1372 Sixth Street, New Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara and was in the position to sell same to him when he knew this claim to be false. He also denied that the same day, with intent to defraud, he prepared an Agreement of Sale and Purchase between himself and Rajendra Samaroo, purporting to show that he was the owner of the said house lot and was in the position to sell same, when he knew this to be false.

Kirton was represented in court by attorney Gordon Gilhuys who had applied for bail, saying he posed no risk of flight. Samaroo, who was also present in court, then stated that all he wanted was his money. Gilhuys informed the court that his client will be making arrangements for the matter to be resolved.

Kirton was subsequently remanded to prison and is scheduled to return to court on April 13.