A Palmiste man has been granted bail with surety of $300,000 when he appeared before a Magistrate yesterday, charged with Fraud.

According to the TTPS, EBERNEIL ERON BERNARD, 29, a businessman, of Plum Street, was charged with Fraudulent Conversion for $175,000, Fraudulent Conversion of $75,000 and Larceny of $22,300 when he appeared in the Princes Town Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday 17th September, 2024.

He was granted bail and the matter was postponed to October 15th, 2024. As part of the conditions of bail, he is required to report to the San Fernando Police Station two days per week. Victims reported to police that they handed over sums totalling $272,300 to a man known to them, representing down payments for the importation, registration and delivery of various types of vehicles.

They subsequently realised the man was never in a position to do so and all efforts to have the monies refunded proved futile.

Investigations were launched by officers of the Fraud Squad and on Friday 13th September, 2024, an exercise was coordinated by W/Snr. Supt. Phillips and ASP Bisnath. It was supervised by Insp. Bachoo and included Sgt. (Ag.) Lewis, Cpl Ramdial and PCs Sooroojpaul and Ali, all of Fraud Squad, San Fernando Office.

The exercise resulted in the arrest of one male suspect in connection with the matter. Bernard was charged with the offences on Tuesday 17th September, 2024 by PCs Jemmet and Sooroojpaul, of Fraud Squad, South Office.