Businessman Andre Curtis appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday, charged with misappropriating funds.

Curtis, of Ariel View Road, Devonshire, was not required to submit a plea. The charges he faces are indictable and must be dealt with in Supreme Court. The 48-year-old was charged with two counts of fraudulently obtaining funds.

The first charge, read by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner, alleged that he fraudulently obtained $228, 797.19 from Andrew Smith on a date between December 18, 2006 and February 16, 2007.

The second charge against alleged on a date between April 4, 2007 and April 20, 2008 Curtis fraudulently obtained $98,478.55 belonging to the Government of Bermuda.

Curtis was further charged with falsifying a bank account under Government's faith-based tourism initiative on a date between April 4, 2007 and April 20, 2008.

Mr. Warner released Curtis on $10,000 bail and ordered him to reappear in Magistrates' Court on July 9.