$12,000 Phantom Car Deception: Man Given November Deadline To Repay Funds For Broken Promise To Import Honda Fit

By Alric Lindsay

An unrepresented man facing sentencing for swindling $12,000 from a woman under the guise of importing a vehicle was given a final, uncompromising warning by Chief Magistrate Hernandez today, October 21, 2026, to pay back the remaining $8,000 balance.

Prashanth Puthalath stood alone before the Summary Court on a single count of obtaining property by deception. Chief Magistrate Hernandez noted on the record that the case has been languishing in the summary jurisdiction since April 2025, largely due to Puthalath’s ongoing issues securing legal aid representation.

Factual details provided by the prosecution laid bare a lengthy, multi-year saga of financial deception. The prosecution revealed that the complainant initially approached Puthalath in February 2023 to coordinate the purchase and importation of a vehicle. By May 2023, the woman met with Puthalath and handed over a cash sum of $12,000.

However, the promised car never arrived. When the expected delivery date passed in June 2023 without any word from the defendant, the complainant began pressing for answers. In July 2023, Puthalath contacted her with an excuse, claiming that government officials had intercepted the vehicle because it was “too old” and that authorities were physically holding the car.

By October 2023, under mounting pressure, Puthalath returned a partial sum of $2,000 to the victim, promising that he would completely sort out the remaining balance soon thereafter. Despite continuous demands from the victim extending through December 2023, no further funds were delivered. The victim finally reported the matter to law enforcement in March 2024, leading to a police invitation to the station where Puthalath was arrested.

Standing before Chief Magistrate Hernandez, Puthalath pleaded for an additional month of leniency saying he made some payments and he needed to raise the remaining amount owed, claiming that the last three to four months had been “really bad” financially.

Chief Magistrate Hernandez firmly rejected any further delay tactics, pointing directly to a newly compiled Victim Impact Report in which the complainant expressed extreme exhaustion and demanded her money back immediately.

Prompted by the Chief Magistrate’s stern stance, Puthalath told the court that he will compensate the victim before the year is finished.

Chief Magistrate Hernandez formally listed the matter for final sentencing on November 30, 2026, delivering an absolute ultimatum to the unrepresented defendant. “You will not be getting any further adjournments,” the Chief Magistrate warned. “The court requires proof of compensation.”

Puthalath had his bail extended on the strict condition that he finalize his payment structure.