Taxi-driver charged over $2M US visa scam

A taxi driver was on Monday accused of bilking a woman of more than $2M on the pretence that he could get her a US Visa.  Imran Bacchus, 28, of Lot 45 Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge, pleaded not guilty to the charge of obtaining money by pretence when he appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Bacchus was released on $200,000 bail.

Imran Bacchus

It was alleged that with intent to defraud, Bacchus obtained the sum of US$11,000 ($2,200,000) by pretending to Ronnie Sooklall that he was in the position to acquire a genuine US visa for her.

The prosecution’s case is that on October 19, around 9 am, Bacchus saw Sooklall in a line at the United States Embassy and approached her. Prosecutor Winneth Hubbard noted that after much discussion, they exchanged numbers and then arranged a time that she would pay over money to him.

Hubbard further said that after some time, Sooklall received no word on the visa and then reported the matter to the police, leading to Bacchus’ arrest.