BOGUS PRINCE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20455, 7 November 1934, Page 5

BOGUS PRINCE.

“ A Naturally Plausible Scoundrel.” IMPRISONMENT TERM. Sinni Winji, a native of Ceylon, who was described by a detective as “a naturally plausible scoundrel who appeared to obtain considerable enjoyment from the way he took money from people who can ill-afford to part with it,” was sentenced to IS months’ imprisonment with hard labour at Kingston, Surrey, recently. Detective Harris said Winji’s correct name was Hector Fernando. He had four previous convictions. At Windsor he represented that he was a native prince desirous of purchasing an estate lor £48,000. lie told a local butcher that he would have a staff of 40 servants, and gave him instructions to purchase a herd of Jersey cows and some pedigree poultry. I Accused asked the butcher to cash a cheque for £5, but the butcher, thinkI ing this was a small amount for “ his I Highness,” asked if it was enough, and j Winji then suggested £7 10s. The j cheque was worthless. Winji arrived at an Eastbourne hotel j with a liveried chauffeur, and kept an ! appointment with a well-known firm of i motor dealers at another hotel. He told | them he was acting on behalf of a native Rajah and intended buying several cars. He went for a trial run, and on his return found police officers waiting for him. Accused, who addressed the Court fluently for nearly an hour, said that between 1921 and 1923 when in England he had £IO,OOO, and produced a bank statement to that effect. I