Following the arrest of an East Coast Demerara man who is suspected to be involved in a major U.S. visa scam, it has been revealed that he has collected millions in cash from a number of people, claiming that he can obtain genuine U.S. visas for them, police said on Saturday.
The alleged fraudster has been identified as Tulsie Persaud also known as Ajay Jaikaran, 33, of Lot 4 Cemetery Road, Triumph Village, East Coast Demerara. Guyana Times International understands that Persaud is not alone and is assisted by a female whose name was given as Simone King of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.
According to information received, King exports panel doors for a living, while Persaud is known for his involvement in the racket. Sources say that Persaud’s stepfather is a senior rank of the Guyana Police Force.
This publication was told that after a couple at Anna Catherina found out that Persaud was related to the police officer, they attempted to lodge a complaint, but the rank refused to believe them, claiming that he knows nothing of his stepson’s business.
Both King and Persaud were jointly charged for fraud after they collected Gy$920,000 from Seeram (only name given) under the pretext that they were in a position to obtain a genuine U.S. visa for Nishan Gary Kam, knowing same to be false.
The couple were also implicated for collecting Gy$1.2 million from Angela Chung between November 24 and December 4, 2009; Gy$2 million from Rajdey Geetlall on May 22, 2009; and Gy$779,000 from Vishwanti Sookdeo between February 20 and March 12, 2009, claiming that they could obtain genuine U.S. visas for them.
King, also known as Diane De Nobrega was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment by Justice William Ramlal in March 2010 after she was found guilty of fraudulent conversion of money she received while purporting to be an immigration consultant.
It was reported that Roshanie Romlochan of Lot 356 Number 30 Village, West Coast Berbice paid over to King two sums of money totalling Gy$1,740,000 in September 2009.
