Prisoner charged with impersonating First Lady, swindling money from women

An inmate of the Mazaruni Prison was Wednesday charged with impersonating First Lady, Sandra Granger and swindling money from women under the false pretence of giving them scholarships.

Mohammed Ali, who is currently serving a sentence for similar charges, appeared before City Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with three counts of obtaining money by false pretence.

News Room understands that while in jail, the man contacted Beverly Harris via telephone under the pretext that he was the First Lady; he reportedly promised to offer her a scholarship if she gave him money.

Arrangements were allegedly put in place for the money to be uplifted at the Triple K Gas Station at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to the particulars of the first charge, Ali allegedly obtained 12 pennyweights of raw gold valued $139,000 from Harris on April 23, 2017, at the Gas Station.

It is further alleged that on April 22, 2017, he obtained $20,000 worth in GTT phone cards and $10,000 in Digicel phone cards from the same woman under the same pretence.

It is further alleged that Ali, between April 01 and 30, he obtained $30,000 worth of phone cards from Badmattie Singh by pretending once again to be the First Lady.

Ali, with no attorney, pleaded guilty to the charge but denied using the identity of the First Lady.

Magistrate Daly, based upon Ali’s explanation in court, entered a not guilty plea on all of the charges. The matter was adjourned to December 21 before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.