Visually impaired man accused of visa scam

A visually impaired elderly man managed to con more than $500,000 from siblings, after promising that he could help them acquire United States visas.

The 56-year-old man, Alton Clarke, caught the interest of persons inside the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, who were desirous of hearing how he skimmed persons of their hard-earned funds. One of the complainants earns his living as a landscaper and shared with Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell that he had to sell bags of grass to make up the $270,000 that Clarke told him was required for the visa.

"My father had to sell a cow and I grow the grass, so I had to sell some of it. I never pay him the money one time," the male complainant shared. It is alleged that on March 14, the complainant went to conduct business in downtown Kingston where she met Clarke coming out of an elevator. Clarke, who has lost vision in his left eye and has only 25 per cent visibility in his right, suggested to the complainant that he could assist her in attaining a visa, since she expressed that she had children overseas. He informed her that it would cost $250,000 and that she had to see a doctor in Linstead, St Catherine, to do a medical examination as required for her application. In court, the complainant said she had proof that she gave him the money.

"I went to my partner lady two time and he was there with me," the female complainant said.

"You can't be so gullible and yet you take up your money give to this one-eyed man. You can't let the word visa cause you to lose your common sense. You shouldn't have done this to yourself. Don't you feel a little foolish?" Burrell asked the complainant.

But Clarke denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to two counts of obtaining money by means of false pretence.

"Prepare yourself for a trial because he is saying that he did not get any money from you. You may not get back any money from him," the senior jurist cautioned.

Clarke was then remanded in custody until May 13 when the matter is set for mention. He was made the subject of a fingerprint order and was urged by the judge to settle his legal representation.