Businessman charged with fraud

Portland businessman Donavon Thompson has been slapped with a charge of fraudulent conversion, which arose out of his alleged failure to deliver two motor vehicles for which a complainant gave him approximately $3.1 million.

The businessman, otherwise called Free, of Norwich Heights in Portland, was charged on Monday by officers attached to the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch.

Reports are that between April 2020 and May 2021, the complainant gave money to the 36-year-old Thompson for him to purchase two motor vehicles. After not receiving them at the agreed time, the complainant demanded the cars or his money. However, neither was forthcoming and the complainant reported the matter to the Fraud Squad.

Thompson later surrendered to detectives and was subsequently charged.

His court date is being finalised.