A foreign used car dealer is expected to appear virtually today before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate charged with 10 counts of Fraudulent Conversion.

According to the TTPS, WENDELL PHILLIP, 34, owner of WEP Consulting Agency Limited located on Diego Martin Main Road, Diego Martin, was arrested on October 27th, 2022 and later charged the following day following investigations into reports of fraud totalling $392,015.56.

The incidents are said to have happened during the period of August 2019 and September 2020 when down payments of $20,000, $37,800, and $35,000, were made by customers to a foreign used car dealer for the purchase, importation and delivery of two Toyota Fielders and a Nissan Cube motor vehicle valued at $97,500, $76,000 and $70,000, respectively.

Seven other persons also reported that they made down payments of $55,000, $40,000, $32,000, $22,400, $32,500, $106,315.56, and $11,000 for the purchase, importation and delivery of foreign used vehicles.

According to the TTPS statement on the matter:

“It is alleged that the vehicles were to be delivered in two months from the dates of the down payment. However, according to the buyers’ accounts, the foreign used car dealer failed to deliver the vehicles as promised and efforts to obtain the vehicle or a refund proved futile.

A report was made to the Fraud Squad and an investigation was launched. Based on further enquiries, Insp Smith, accompanied by PCs Ramkissoon, Jaikaran and Edwards of the Fraud Squad arrested WENDELL PHILLIP at a financial institution in Port-of-Spain. Investigations were spearheaded by Supt Reuben and ASP Craig of the Fraud Squad.”