Saanich landlord arrested in court

VICTORIA - A University of Victoria law student from India is one of more than a dozen people who have come forward to /A\ News complaining that a landlord took his money and wouldn't let him move into a rental suite.

Saanich Police arrested and charged Charmaine Roy with fraud last month after an /A\ News investigation into the tenants complaints.

"My professors came across your report (and said) 'Well, is this the same land lady you were talking to?', I said yes" says Supriyo Routh

The student says he had responded to an ad on the Craigslist web site months earlier and made arrangements by email from India to rent the suite.

"I called her up to find out whether the phone number is genuine. I found out the phone number is genuine and the bank account", Routh explains.

"She acknowledged in her email that the money had actually (been) received in her bank account. Well, if someone was really intending to commit fraud (they) would never let me know that the money has arrived."

Routh says he intends to tell his story to Saanich Police who say they've already received more than 40 complaints about Charmaine Roy.

The department says it laid nine fraud charges against Roy. The 48 year old landlord appeared to face those charges for the first time on Thursday. But, within minutes Sheriffs handcuffed Roy and lead her from the courtroom.

Court records show that after her first arrest, Roy was released on a number of conditions including that she not accept any money for the rental of any property.

Saanich Police have a new investigation that they say shows Roy did accept money for the lease of property following her release.

"That constitutes a breach", says Constable Kathleen Brandsma. "And it appears to me that the breach happened shortly after (her release) and it may be as short a time as 40 minutes afterwards".

Charmaine Roy remains in jail tonight and will be back in court on Friday morning.

Investigators say they expect to lay more charges later this month.

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