ALLEGED fraudster Malcolm Mascarenas is to face the Crown Court over a £1.3million scam.Mascarenas appeared before magistrates to face a huge 76 charges relating to theft and dishonesty.
ALLEGED fraudster Malcolm Mascarenas is to face the Crown Court over a £1.3million scam.
Mascarenas appeared before magistrates to face a huge 76 charges relating to theft and dishonesty.
South East Suffolk Magistrates Court heard the 69-year-old Chelmsford man was set to deny the charges, although no formal plea was entered.
Godfried Duah told magistrates the complexity and number of charges made the case unsuitable for summary trial.
The full list of charges was not read to the court. They date over a 20-month period from February 2000 to October 2001.
Mascarenas, of Multon Lea, Chelmsford, faces dozens of charges of fraud relating to sums in excess of £10,000.
But the largest charge he has to answer is the theft of a credit balance of £350,000 in November, 2000.
The slightly built, balding Mascarenas was impassive during the short court appearance.
Smartly dressed, he spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.
In addition to the multiple theft and dishonesty charges against his name, Mascarenas will also face a running an investment business without the proper authority.
Magistrates agreed with Mr Duah's application and ordered Mascarenas to appear before Ipswich Crown Court on April 4.
He was granted unconditional bail.
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