Carlos Holmes, a mechanic residing at Lot 26, Third Street, Lilliendaal, East Coast Demerara, has been placed on $300,000 bail after being charged with fraudulent misappropriation in a $7 million deal for an excavator that allegedly never materialised.
Holmes appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him by the state. The matter was heard by Magistrate Faith McGusty, with Holmes representing himself in court, as he had no attorney.
According to the prosecution, Holmes became acquainted with businessman Rudolph Seecharan through a Facebook advertisement. In this ad, Holmes allegedly advertised foreign-used excavators for sale, claiming he could supply heavy-duty machinery at competitive prices.
Intrigued, Seecharan reportedly contacted Holmes, who assured him that he could procure a Komatsu excavator for a total of GY$30 million. Holmes then reportedly told Seecharan that a down payment of $7 million would be required to order the machine.
Seecharan allegedly transferred the requested sum to Holmes, who issued a receipt acknowledging the $7 million payment. Holmes then provided several dates for the excavator’s expected arrival, but the promised equipment never showed up.
After repeated delays, Seecharan reported the matter to the police, explaining that he had made a substantial financial commitment without receiving the promised machinery.
Police from the Brickdam Fraud Department launched an investigation and contacted Holmes, who reportedly admitted to receiving the funds. However, Holmes claimed that the supplier was at fault for failing to deliver the excavator on time. He provided investigators with a receipt, which he claimed was proof of the down payment he had made to the supplier on Seecharan’s behalf.
Despite Holmes’s explanation, the case was brought to court. It was reported that Holmes allegedly provided multiple arrival dates, none of which were fulfilled. They argued that Holmes had misappropriated the funds entrusted to him and had failed to take adequate steps to deliver on his promises or to refund the money.
During the hearing, Holmes insisted that he had acted in good faith and that the supplier had delayed the delivery, not him. He told the court he had made efforts to ensure the excavator’s arrival but had been let down by external circumstances beyond his control.
Magistrate McGusty granted Holmes bail under strict conditions, requiring him to pay $300,000 and to report to the Brickdam Police Station on the last Friday of every month. This reporting condition will remain in effect throughout the proceedings. Holmes’s next court appearance is scheduled for November 29, where statements from the prosecution and defense will be presented.
