Ultimatum after Oamaru woman conned

A man who conned an Oamaru woman out of $15,000 has been told to repay the money or face jail time.

Mrinal Sardana (33) had his sentencing at the Dunedin District Court this morning deferred until Friday after claiming he could pay the money back in full by that date.

Judge Kevin Phillips told Sardana and his counsel, John Westgate, that failure to front up with the money by 9am on Friday, plus $5000 reparation for emotional harm to the victim, would result in a jail sentence of around 15 months.

Sardana was found guilty by a jury in July of obtaining by deception after he falsely represented himself to the victim as a wealthy businessman and said he would establish her in a business.

Sardana accepted $15,000 in cash from the victim on May 17 last year, before flying to Macau and losing the money gambling.

Judge Phillips said the victim had suffered depression, sleepless nights, a loss of confidence, and and felt ashamed as a result of the incident.

She was also scared of Sardana, he said.

Sardana told a probation officer he regularly spent about $1000 a day at casinos, the court heard.

Mr Westgate said gambling was not seen as a bad thing in Sardana's Indian culture.

Judge Phillips said if Sardana paid the money back by Friday, he would face four months' community detention and 300 hours' community work.

 

 

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