Taxi driver on bail over alleged $2M fraud

A 34-year-old taxi driver was placed on bail yesterday after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on fraud charges.

Ravindra Persaud, of 474 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara was accused of fraudulently converting over $2 million in items for his personal use. It is alleged that during October and November, Persaud was instructed by the complainant, Yasmin Deonauth to sell 154 buckets of nails, 220 cases of Charmin toilet paper, 85 cases of Charmin paper towels, 51 pieces of bed sheet sets, 2 packets Bounty paper towel and 4 pcs bathroom mats, having an accumulated value of over $2 million, but converted them to his own use.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the complainant, the defendant made several promises to pay for the items but to date has not done so. She added that the defendant made several excuses of his grandchild being sick and that his mother was dead and he was in the process of burying her.

Prosecutor Deniro Jones stated that the accused had told the police that he would pay for the said items but never returned to the station to do so.

Persaud was placed on $150,000 bail and is ordered to report to the Fraud Squad every Friday at 8 am. The matter has been adjourned to January 15, 2016.