Ex-cop back in court for fraud

Ex-police officer Paul Watson was released on $1.3 million bail on Tuesday for fraudulently obtaining money by posing as a law enforcement officer and deceiving individuals.

Watson, of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on four charges.

Particulars of the charges alleged that Watson, between 2019 and 2020, at Groenveldt, Leonora, obtained the sum of $2.7M from Sharda Bramdeo and James Cornelius by falsely pretending that he was a police officer and was in a position to file a notice of appeal, knowing it to be false.

Watson pleaded not guilty to the charges while his attorney, Bernard DaSilva, made an application for bail.

The Magistrate released the defendant on $800,000 and adjourned the case until May 15.

Watson was then hauled before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court, where he faced three more charges.

He pleaded not guilty and was released on a total of $500,000 bail. The matter was adjourned until May 16.

In April 2021, Watson was charged with similar crimes, but the matters were later dismissed.

Watson made his first court appearance back in 2017 after allegedly swindling money from persons by pretending that he was in a position to obtain a firearm license by posing as a cop.