Man accused of land deal fraud pleads for repayment time

Dominic Bowen, a 24-year-old man from Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where he pleaded for an opportunity to repay his friend after allegedly deceiving him in a land sale scheme.
Bowen is accused of cheating $4 million from his friend, Jermaine Sealey, by falsely claiming ownership of four acres of land in Yarrowkabra, along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The alleged scam took place in April at Railway Road, Kitty, Georgetown.

Appearing before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, Bowen pleaded guilty to the charge and requested two additional weeks to settle the amount with Sealey. The magistrate granted the request, setting Bowen’s bail at $100,000 and ordering him to return to court on November 8, to confirm repayment.
The incident reportedly began when Sealey expressed his interest in purchasing land, and Bowen claimed he owned four acres at Yarrowkabra and charged $4 million for the land.
Relying on their friendship, Sealey said he transferred the funds to Bowen in April at Railway Road. Bowen reportedly assured Sealey that the documentation for the sale would be ready within two weeks. However, as time elapsed Sealey received no paperwork, nor was he able to reach Bowen for updates.
After unsuccessful attempts to contact Bowen, Sealey reported the case to the police. An investigation followed, during which Bowen admitted to the deception. He was then arrested and formally charged with the offense. (G9)