Liberia: Indian National Charged With ‘Theft by Deception’
An Indian national, Janak Charming, is facing charges of ‘Theft of Property by Deception’ and is therefore standing trial at the Ganta Magisterial Court.
The charges against Charming, an employee at Vagas Casino in Ganta, came after allegations surfaced in February 2024.
According to the complaint filed by the private lawyer representing Princess Daynean, the defendant allegedly devised a deceptive scheme to convince her that someone was interested in purchasing her car.
Subsequently, Charming purportedly took possession of the car, altered the documentation to his name, and sold the vehicle in January 2024 without adhering to the original agreement. The defendant was formally charged with “theft of property by deception” as per section 15.15 of the penal code, with the car’s estimated value reportedly amounting to US$5,500.
Daynean expressed frustration at the defendant’s alleged evasion of payment, prompting her to escalate the matter to the police.
Princess Daynean is a cashier at Vagas Casino, while Janak Charming is an IT engineer at the same casino.
She told this reporter that after the case was reported to the police, the Indian man pled guilty, promising to pay the agreed amount of US$2,500.
“When we went to the police, the proprietor of Alvino Hotel, Prince Howard, came in along with our manager for the casino, appealing and asking me not to go to court,” Daynean said. “After I agreed not to go to court anymore and while waiting for the time he requested to pay the money to reach, the next day when I went to work, the management of Vagas Casino ordered the security not to allow me in.”
“Even though the main manager told me to go to work, I am afraid,” she said.
Vagas Casino is attached to Alvino Hotel in Ganta, but it is said to be managed by an Indian, based in Guinea.
During the legal proceedings, the Indian man reportedly admitted to his actions and offered to reimburse the agreed amount of US$2,500. However, the situation took a different turn when the management of Vagas Casino, where both parties were employed, prohibited Daynean from resuming work following the dispute.
“Janak Charming and the manager in charge stopped me from working, arguing why should I carry police on Charming,” she added.
A court hearing ensued, resulting in a guilty verdict against the Indian national, who was instructed by Judge Owen Freeman to compensate for the full value of the car, totaling US$5,500.
Failure to comply with the court order could lead to imprisonment, as per the judge’s ruling. Efforts to obtain a statement from the defendant were hindered by legal constraints, with the judge warning against any unauthorized interactions with the convict.
The judge’s strict enforcement of courtroom regulations included restrictions on media coverage, emphasizing the need for compliance with legal standards throughout the proceedings. As to the latest updates, the defendant’s compliance with the court’s verdict remains unclear, with the Indian national reportedly abstaining from engaging with the press despite being present in court after the judgment.