A POLICE officer has been charged with obtaining money by false pretences.
Paul Montano, 39, was arrested after he allegedly led a man to believe that he was the owner of a Mazda 3 motor vehicle and was authorised to sell it, police reported.
Montano was expected to appear before a Port of Spain Magistrate on Wednesday to answer to the charges after being arrested on Tuesday by PC Thomas.
Police reports are that the victim allegedly paid sums totalling $30,000 in cash to a seller, which represented payment in full towards the purchase of the vehicle.
The seller allegedly claimed that the vehicle was free from encumbrances. However, sometime later it was discovered that the seller did not own the vehicle and he was not authorized to sell it.
The matter was reported to the Couva Police Station, and an investigation was conducted by W/Inspector Smith which resulted in Montano being charged.