A WOMAN facing charges of false pretence involving more than $40, 000 has given her evidence in the defence case, Wednesday.
This started after the court ruled over the no case to answer submissions made by the accused’s lawyer at the close of the prosecution’s case.
Cathy Roy completed her examination in chief and will be cross-examined by the prosecutor in the hearing today.
She is standing trial for one count of conversion and five counts of false pretence involving more than $40, 000.
Police alleged that between June and July 2014, Roy of JR Construction & Property Real Estate Company allegedly obtained $44,600.67 by false pretence.
It was alleged that in early 2014, the accused called in at the complainant’s office at Tasahe and proposed to bring prospective renters for his apartments under the conditions that the property must be insured.
The complainant Peter Zheng is the Managing Director of Far East Enterprise LTD in Honiara, who is residing at his apartment at Tasahe.
Court documents revealed that the accused personally recommended Tower Insurance and allegedly offered to act as Zheng’s proxy to make payment to the insurance company.
Roy specifically told Mr Zheng that Tower Insurance does not accept any company’s cheque except cash.
The accused also allegedly claimed her clients were waiting to sign the lease agreement and would move in soon.
She allegedly insisted on insuring the house by paying cash, which she could take to the insurance company and pay on Zheng’s behalf.
However, on 10 June 2014, Zheng issued a Westpac cashier’s cheque in the sum of $14,000 for the accused to cash from the bank with the full intention that she would then make cash payments to Tower Insurance for the first house.
On 16 June 2014, Roy allegedly claimed that the insurance company had made a mistake because $14,000 does not include insurance of the contents within the house.
As a result, Zheng allegedly gave the accused $5,800 in cash for her to sort out the insurance payment for the first house, which she allegedly claimed her clients were waiting to sign the lease agreement upon seeing the insurance certificates.
It was later alleged Roy told Zheng that the manager of the insurance from Papua New Guinea (PNG) had confirmed to rent the apartment.
However, Cathy said that person’s work permit was not yet issued to him from the Labour Division, so she went to help him sort out his work permit.
Therefore she had no time to sign the lease agreement with other clients from Oxfam International and Bishop Brothers.
The accused allegedly on other dates asked Zheng for cash payment to cover the contents of the house.
The total amount of money Mr Zheng allegedly gave the accused was $44,600.67.
It was alleged Tower Insurance never received any payment because the cheques the accused issued were dishonoured.
Henry Kausimae of Public Solicitor’s Office is representing the accused while Police Prosecutor John Palmer appeared for the State.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN