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Visa scam duo granted bail
The two persons accused of visa-related fraud, Toolsie Persaud and Simone King, were yesterday granted $1M bail each by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson when they made their third court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The duo allegedly fleeced millions from four persons after pretending they were in the position to obtain United States visas for them.
It is alleged that between May 2 and May 8, 2009, the duo with intent to defraud obtained $920,000 from Seetaram by falsely pretending that they were in the position to obtain a US visa for his nephew Kishun Garykam, knowing same to be false.
It is also alleged that between November 24 and December 2, 2009 they obtained $1.2M from Angela Chung pretending that they were in the position to obtain a US visa for her. They are also accused of defrauding Vishwani Sookdeo and his wife Elizabeth Sookdeo of $779,000. It is also alleged that they obtained $2M from Elizabeth Sookdeo pretending that they could obtain a US visa for her.
Toolsie, a Lab Technician at GuySuCo and King, were not required to plead to any of the indictable charges.
They are now being represented by attorneys at law Nigel Hughes and Kavern Williams who applied for bail for their clients and stated that the two are not aware of any visa transactions.
Police prosecutor Stephen Telford yesterday in court once again objected to bail. He said that they agreed to repay the three persons and had asked for more time to accumulate the restitution which has become impaired. He added that they are facing similar charges involving different persons, and if granted bail they may flee the jurisdiction.
Hughes intervened and stated that the grounds under which the prosecutor is objecting to bail are not basis to do so.
Williams added that her clients have lodged their passports with the police. The magistrate then granted bail.
On their previous court appearances, the two accused were represented by attorney at law James Bond who had applied for bail for them but was denied on both occasions by the Acting Chief Magistrate. He had stated that the money received by King from Elizabeth Sookdeo was a loan. Elizabeth Sookdeo however had stated that King had tricked her into making the money look as though it was borrowed when it was actually payment for obtaining visas.
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