Rs 400 is the amount demanded by an individual who pretended to be a police officer to facilitate the obtaining of a character certificate to a security guard in the capital. The suspect Mike Surriah, 52 years old and living in Residence La Cure, made the victim believe that he had a contact at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). To further instill confidence in his prey, he removed a business card of a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police that was in his possession to show to the security guard. Mike Surriah was walking along Rue Célicourt Antelme, Port-Louis on Friday, October 22 when he was stopped by the security guard. The security guard took him to the Pope Hennesy police station in Port-Louis where he was arrested. A provisional charge of fraud was brought against him.
The case dates back to August, when a 22-year-old merchandiser from a company involved in spice production was working as a security guard at the Garden Tower building in Port Louis. He was conversing with a colleague about the character certificate. At the same time, an individual introduced himself as Constable Surriah, made him believe that he had a contact at the DPP’s office and that he could facilitate the procedures for him to obtain this document.
The suspect showed this security guard a business card of a DPP. Except that the latter had already retired. Having believed in his good faith, the security guard who lives in the St-Joseph, Terre-Rouge area had to exchange his contact information. On Tuesday, October 5, while he was working at the Garden Tower around 2 p.m., this so-called policeman called him. He asked him for a sum of Rs 400 and several documents to start the process. The young security guard said that he then gave him the required amount, his identity card and other documents.
The same day at about 2 pm, Mike Surriah came to give back his documents. Since that date, the man has cut off all contact with him. On Friday, October 22, while the security guard was at the Winners supermarket around 2:00 p.m., he saw the suspect. He then asked him to accompany him to the Pope Hennessy police station where he identified him as the person who had impersonated a police officer and swindled him of Rs 400.
