Man who allegedly dishonestly obtained $1,650 cash refused bail

36-year-old Krishneel Raman of Legalega, Nadi who has been charged for allegedly obtaining more than $1,600 by deception from a major retailer of home durable goods has been remanded in custody.

Magistrate Krishnan Prasad says bail cannot be provided as Raman could not specify a fixed address of where he will be residing if he is released on bail.

He says presumption in favour of bail is especially displaced in terms of public interest and the accused will be remanded in custody where he can formally apply for bail.

Raman, on the 18th of August last year, allegedly dishonestly obtained $1,650 cash from the retailer's Labasa branch through the MPAiSA platform.

Police say investigations revealed that the accused called up a staff of the company, pretending to be the Manager of the mobile service provider who needed to update the Mpaisa QR machine.

He instructed the staff to follow the instructions on his command which the staff did, resulting in the transfer of the said amount to his MPAiSA number.

The case has been adjourned till 4th March.