BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A female resident of Ponds Pasture, who is employed at a reputable financial agency, has allegedly fleeced a Nigerian of EC$10 000.
Reports reaching SKNVibes indicate that a female Nigerian student, who also resides in Ponds Pasture, was led to believe that she could obtain St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship at a cost of EC$10 000 without having to fulfill the legal requirements.
It is alleged that between May 12 and 21, 2010, the Nigerian gave the woman EC$9 540 and promised to deliver the remainder sometime in the future. However, on the morning of Monday, October 4, 2010, the Nigerian allegedly reported the matter to the police after she had learnt that the woman had boarded a LIAT flight destined for Barbados, where she would have gone to the US Embassy to obtain her ‘Green Card’.
Reports also indicated that the Nigerian told the police that the woman did not intend to return to St. Kitts after concluding her business in Barbados.
SKNVibes learnt that the woman was taken off the aircraft, and following investigations police confirmed that the Nigerian’s allegations were true.
It is also alleged that the woman is the niece of a government minister and she was apprehended and taken to the Basseterre Police Station, from where she made a number of phone calls. These calls resulted in a relative repaying the Nigerian EC$9 000 at the station.
SKNVibes further learnt that the Nigerian was satisfied with the repayment and did not press charges. However, a source close to the police declared that the woman should have been charged with “Fraudulent Conversion” and the Nigerian should have also been charged.
The source noted that only last month a Police Constable was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison and later placed on bail for a similar charge.
“In October, Constable Timothy Abbott was charged with Fraudulent Conversion and released on bail. He was again charged with Fraudulent Conversion in early September and was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison. However, three days after being remanded, he was released on bail. Abbott is alleged to have taken money from a number of persons with the promise of assisting them in obtaining licenced firearms.
“For this alleged act, he was charged. Therefore, if a police officer can be charged and taken to court for an offence which has not yet proven that he is guilty, why was the Ponds Pasture resident not charged when evidence lies in the report made by the Nigerian and the money that was repaid? How can some persons flaunt the laws of the Federation and not be held culpable? It is my firm belief that both women should have been made to appear in court; the Ponds Pasture resident for conning the Nigerian and the Nigerian for knowingly being involved in an illegal arrangement,” the source said.
