A Nigerian man was fined $9, 500 today after pleading guilty to two fraud charges in the District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court.
David Alli-Oke, of 60 Plaistow Lane, BR1 3JE, London, England, admitted before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant that he dishonestly obtained a $19,655 watch from Nimsay Trading Company Limited on October 3 with intent to permanently deprive the company by falsely representing that a NatWest Visa Debit Card bearing the name RE Willis was a good and valid form of payment and he was authorized to use it.
The 31-year-old promoter, who had been on remand for over two weeks, also admitted that he had with him two Nationwide Visa Debit Cards, a Santander MasterCard, a Santander Visa Debit Card, a Tesco Bank MasterCard, a Lloyds Bank of American Express card, a Lloyds Bank MasterCard and a Lloyds Bank Visa debit Card, bearing different names which were intended to commit criminal deception.
In outlining the facts the prosecutor revealed that Alli-Oke went to a store located on Broad Street, The City, and attempted to purchase a Rolex watch with a credit card. He, however, left after producing false picture identification.
He returned to the same store on a later date and again attempted to purchase the item but he was recognized, arrested and the other credit cards were found when he was searched.
The fine which carried a two-year prison sentence alternative was imposed and paid forthwith after his attorneys Michael Lashley, QC, and Jamilia Lorde, mitigated on his behalf.
Lashley urged the magistrate to impose a non-custodial sentence on his client as he had not only entered an early guilty plea but was the sole breadwinner for his family that resided in England and was also gainfully employed.
However, as Alli-Oke walked out of the Bridgetown court he was met by immigration officials who accompanied him out of the precincts in a waiting vehicle.
He was earlier convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the second charge.
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