GUYANA–Local police are hot on the trail of a Trinidadian trickster who has so far managed to illegally sell several vehicles after renting them from unsuspecting local car rental establishments on East and West Coast Demerara.
The police detained the Trinidadian's accomplice, Steven Baboolall but he was later released on $20,000 bail. Investigators have set up a plan to capture the mastermind, whose name was given as Daniel Ali.
Police said Ali was working with local accomplices who were holding assets for him and even opening bank accounts for him.
The scheme came to light last week when several car rental dealers turned up at the Vigilance and Leonora Police Stations with reports that Ali, who had rented several cars from them over a period of time, failed to return the vehicles and had in fact sold the vehicles to other people.
On Friday, another car rental operative turned up at the Vigilance Police Station to report that Ali had rented his car and had not returned it by the stipulated date.
Earlier this year, Ali and Baboolall caught the public's eye when they moved into an apartment at Roraima Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, where they were observed spending lavishly and driving several expensive cars.
Queries of curious neighbours were met with explanations that the men had come from Trinidad, were very wealthy and were in Guyana to invest in a catering business.
There are reports that the latest car dealer who was conned woke up early Sunday morning to find his car parked in front of his premises and the ignition keys thrown into his front yard.
Ali has managed to elude the police and may be attempting to leave Guyana for Suriname using the 'back track' route.