A man was sentenced to 12 months at hard labour suspended for three years, after begging the RM not let him go to prison, when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Dwayne Wilks, charged with conspiracy to defraud, pleaded guilty. Wilks, who entered the court, looking ill, said he was having stomach problems and did not feel well.

"Mi cyaan go back in there, mi no feel good," said Wilks, telling Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey he was a very sick person and begging for a second chance. He told the RM that he would not commit another criminal act and mentioned that it was his first time before the court.

It is alleged that Wilks was a part of a scam that resulted in the complainant losing $30,000. In January this year, the complainant responded to an advertisement offering jobs in the Bahamas. She was told that she would receive a document from a bearer with the information about the job. Wilks was the bearer in the operation. She was further advised to transfer $30,000 to a specific bank account.

After the money had been transferred, the complainant realised that it was a scam after not being able to contact the person who had told her to send the money to the account.

A sting operation was arranged and the police apprehended Wilks. An MP4 player, which was said to belong to the complainant's son, was also found in Wilks' possession.