Prosecutors dropped a charge against a man accused of a housing-related fraud after paying money he allegedly owed the victim.

Corvin Ratteray, 36, of Abbott's Road, Hamilton Parish, was accused of obtaining $1,550 from Greer Valasse by falsely representing he was entitled to rent an apartment in Middle Road, Warwick on August 19, 2009.

Mr. Ratteray was first charged at Magistrates' Court in October 2009 and arraigned at Supreme Court in April, when he pleaded not guilty. No details of the alleged offence was given in court at that time, and he was bailed.

On Friday, prosecutor Maria Sofianos filed a nolle prosequi, which is an application to discontinue criminal charges. She handed paperwork to the judge explaining the application, but did not verbalise the reason for filing it.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves told Mr. Ratteray: "Mr. defendant; in respect of these charges before the court, you are discharged at this time. That does not mean the Crown cannot come back against you later on if they so choose. In other words they can charge you again when they are ready."

Ms Sofianos declined to comment after the case on why the charge was dropped.

However, Ms Valasse told The Royal Gazette: "He paid the money and I dropped the charge. Everything was settled out of court."

She declined to detail the problem, beyond describing it as "a very complicated situation."