Raffique Skerritt convicted of unlawfully obtaining $300,000

Raffique Skerritt has been found guilty of obtaining money by false pretences following his involvement in a fraudulent scheme that defrauded a Syrian national of $300,000 between June and July 2019.

The court heard that Skerritt exploited a Syrian citizen with limited English skills, falsely claiming he was owed money by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHAPA). He promised to repay the $300,000 loan with interest and additionally provide the victim with a house and land.

Skerritt’s fraudulent activities stemmed from an earlier housing development scheme. In 2018, he had approached CHAPA proposing that his company build 70 houses using Baupanel-style construction technology under a $16 million contract. However, trial evidence revealed that the Intellectual Property Registrar confirmed this company never existed.

While CHAPA’s then-chairman initially showed interest, a new executive board later reduced the scope to a trial project of 10 houses worth $1.6 million. Construction commenced in early 2019 after an initial $800,000 disbursement in December 2018.

Since the non-existent company lacked a bank account, Skerritt channeled the funds through his attorney. By May 2019, he had received $1.59 million in total but failed to complete the houses within the agreed four-month deadline. Site inspections revealed substandard work, though payments were approved by CHAPA’s chairman, who was Skerritt’s friend.

In June 2019, Skerritt befriended the complainant and discussed his CHAPA work. He requested a $300,000 loan, offering $150,000 in interest plus a house and land in return. To support his claim of being owed $800,000 by CHAPA, Skerritt arranged for the complainant to visit the CHAPA chairman’s residence, where the chairman verified Skerritt was indeed owed money.

Despite this confirmation, the complainant’s friend expressed concerns and suggested additional safeguards. These included a life insurance policy naming the complainant as beneficiary. Skerritt took the complainant to sign what he claimed was a life insurance form, but police later determined it was merely an incomplete application form.

The friend also recommended drafting a contract. Skerritt’s attorney, a senior lawyer, prepared the agreement based on Skerritt’s information. The contract stipulated repayment with interest within 90 days, plus provision of a house and land. However, it was executed in the name of the same non-existent company.

When the 90-day period expired without repayment, the complainant contacted Skerritt, who requested an extension and did not repay the loan.

Meanwhile, despite receiving a ministerial extension, Skerritt failed to deliver the CHAPA houses. The partially built units were deemed structurally unsound, leading to his dismissal from the project.

Following his arrest, Skerritt admitted to police that he was neither a contractor nor had prior housing development experience. He claimed he had planned to subcontract the work.

The prosecution argued that Skerritt used his relationship with CHAPA’s chairman to commit fraud. The defense contended the matter was civil in nature due to the existing contract, but the court determined the deception was deliberate and criminal.

Justice Ann Marie Smith delivered the guilty verdict, with sentencing scheduled for July 3.