A 54-year-old man from Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has been sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to defrauding another man of $700,000 by pretending he could secure government contracts.
Ronald Saunders appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he pleaded guilty to the charge of obtaining money by false pretence.
The charge stated that between August 15 and 18, 2023, at Kitty, Georgetown, Saunders unlawfully obtained $700,000 from Andrew Hall.
Saunders had claimed he could land two government contracts for Hall if he paid him a $700,000 “tender fee.”
In court, it was revealed that Saunders told Hall he was a member of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), suggesting he had connections that could help secure the deals.
Convinced by the pitch, Hall trusted him and handed over the cash. But once the money changed hands, Saunders disappeared. Hall’s calls and messages went unanswered, and it soon became clear he had been duped.
Left with no other option, Hall reported the matter to the police, which led to Saunders’ arrest. When questioned by investigators, Saunders admitted that he could not repay the money and stated that he intended to plead guilty.
Standing before Magistrate Annette Singh, he was asked why the court should not impose the maximum five-year prison term. Saunders replied that he knew he had done wrong and asked the court to show him mercy.
After considering his early guilty plea and his admission of guilt, Magistrate Singh sentenced him to two years in prison.
