North Ruimveldt pensioner charged for $1.75M house lot fraud

A 72-year-old North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pensioner, with a history of fraud and larceny allegations, was on Friday arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a fresh charge of obtaining money under false pretence.
Norman Phillips appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh and pleaded not guilty to the allegation that on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, he, with intent to defraud, obtained $1.75 million from Lawrence Lorimer by falsely claiming he could secure a house lot for him when he was not in a position to do so.
Represented by attorney Casside Nurse, the court was told that Phillips is a pensioner with no convictions who suffers from medical complications and is on medication. Nurse said her client had been released on station bail and had faithfully reported to the police daily since then.
She further noted that Phillips was engaged in talks with the virtual complainant to settle the matter, proposing to repay the money in instalments. Nurse requested that the court impose reasonable bail, highlighting that Phillips’ brother was prepared to make the payments on his behalf.
After brief discussions in court, Nurse informed Magistrate Singh that Phillips’ brother could pay $500,000 by the coming Wednesday, with the remainder to be settled before the end of the month.
Lorimer reluctantly agreed to the arrangement.
The prosecutor, however, objected to bail, citing issues with the address Phillips provided to the police, the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, and the large sum involved. The court also heard that Phillips currently has another charge pending.
Magistrate Singh ultimately placed Phillips on $100,000 bail and adjourned the matter to August 20, when the first repayment is due.
While Phillips’ lawyer has said he has no previous convictions, reports show that he is, however, no stranger to the judicial system, having been before the courts on multiple occasions over the past decade for similar offences.
In 2017, he was remanded to prison by Magistrate Judy Latchman after being accused of stealing more than $2 million in property, including a Bedford truck, from his then employer, Aubrey Barnwell.
Phillips denied the allegation and also revealed in open court that he had another pending matter before Magistrate Annette Singh.
Despite his protests of innocence, he was remanded to prison. The outcome of that matter is unclear.
Phillips had also faced similar allegations in 2012. In that case, he was charged with obtaining $170,000 from an overseas-based Guyanese, Harold Carr, under the false pretence that he was employed with the Central Housing and Planning Authority and could secure a house lot.
Phillips was placed on $250,000 bail, ordered to lodge his passport, and report weekly to the Criminal Investigations Department. The outcome of that case also remains unknown.
Friday’s proceedings add yet another chapter to Phillips’ history of court appearances.