Mon Repos man remanded over $1.8M Canadian visa scam

A man was remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday charged with seven counts of obtaining money by false pretence.

Narine Singh, 42, of 5 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara is accused of obtaining over $1.8M from Narmilla Singh by pretending to be in a position to acquire a genuine Canadian visa for her knowing same to be false.

The charges allege that on March 19, he obtained the sum of $60,000; on February 26, he received $200,000; on March 3 he got $200,000; on March 15 at Buxton he received $620,000; on March 22 he received $300,000; on March 10 at Buxton he received $420,000 and on February 25, he received $40,000.

When the charges were read he pleaded not guilty. He was represented by Attorney-at-law Sasha Roberts who made an unsuccessful bail application.

Roberts said her client was willing to repay the sum. He was also willing to surrender his passport and she argued further that since he is a diabetic it was a condition for bail. Police Prosecutor Inspector Stephen Telford objected to bail.

The accused was then remanded until he can come up with the full amount to repay Singh. The matter was put down for April 28 for report.