GPF probes alleged $145M housing scam by British Businessman

…company denies allegations, says still actively operating in Guyana
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has launched an investigation into allegations that a British businessman has defrauded several Guyanese of approximately $145 million after reportedly collecting payments to construct homes and buildings that were never completed. At the centre of the investigation is Hardeep Singh, also called Hardeep Singh Bharya, a British national who stayed at Bonasika Street in Campbellville, Georgetown, and hails from Lot 45 Great West Road, Hounslow TW5 ODG, England. He operated as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Modular Builds Guyana Inc and is wanted for fraudulent misappropriation.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed to the Guyana Times on Friday that at least four victims have since filed police reports against Singh and Modular Builds Guyana. According to police reports, the four victims had reportedly met Singh back in August 2024 during the International Building Expo held in Guyana, where he had a pre-fab house on display for his construction business-Modular Builds-which specialises in building houses. Interested in the company’s work, three of the four victims subsequently entered into written agreements with Singh and Modular Builds. Based on police information, Singh allegedly took an advance of $28 million to build four two-bedroom apartments but only erected the columns and laid one hundred blocks at the site. He also reportedly received $50 million as an advance to erect an 11-storey apartment building but only threw four truckloads of sand on the land. In another case, Singh allegedly took an advance of $22 million to erect a three-floor model commercial building, but only meager works were done. The British national reportedly collected another $45 million to erect a three-storey apartment complex, for which construction had started but is only 15 per cent complete. Police say it was subsequently discovered that the accused has fled the country and is presently in the United Kingdom (UK). But even as the police say investigations are in progress, Modular Builds Guyana has denied the allegations and insists that the company is actively operating in the country.

Denied allegations
Responding to the reports of its CEO fleeing the country after taking money from several persons, the company said in a statement on its Facebook page on Friday that “These allegations are completely false and constitute misinformation.”
“Modular Builds Guyana categorically rejects the claims made in the publication. The company remains fully operational and continues to conduct its business and projects in Guyana,” it added. Modular Builds Guyana went on to threaten legal actions in response to the publications and sought to reassure customers, partners, employees and the wider Guyanese public that the construction company remains active in the country. “We take these allegations extremely seriously, particularly because statements of this nature can cause unnecessary concern and damage the reputation of our company, our employees and the people who have placed their trust in us,” the company noted. Modular Builds Guyana, which also operates in Jamaica, further declared its commitment to its mission of providing affordable housing without compromising on quality, durability, or modern construction standards. “Our vision extends beyond Guyana. Modular Builds continues to pursue opportunities and develop projects across multiple locations throughout the Caribbean, with the goal of making high-quality, affordable housing more accessible to communities across the region. We remain focused on what we do best: building homes, creating opportunities and delivering quality,” the missive detailed. On its Facebook page, Modular Builds Guyana described itself as a construction company that offers an affordable, sustainable concept and design solution for housing, developments, offices and so much more. It noted that they offer everything from turnkey solutions to project management of homes or buildings. In fact, this newspaper understands that Modular Builds Guyana was contracted by the Housing Ministry under its turnkey house initiative some time back. However, a senior official at the Housing Ministry told this publication on Friday that the contract with the company was terminated for “underperformance.” This development comes on the heels of another fraudulent investigation into housing contractor DreamVu Homes.
In fact, a few months ago, the Housing Ministry said international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), were contacted as part of ongoing efforts to locate contractor Omar Malik and secure justice for families affected by a failed Young Professional Homes project.