Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The Westmoreland couple who is before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on a number of fraud charges, had their case set for mention on December 15, when they appeared last Friday.
André Poorman, from George's Plain, is jointly charged with Latesha Saunders for fraudulent conversion, obtaining money by false pretence and conspiracy to defraud. Saunders had her bail extended, while Poorman was remanded after their lawyer failed to appear in court as had been anticipated.
In one of the cases against the couple, it is alleged that in August 2013, they purported to be operators of a tour company, approached the complainants and asked them to lease their buses to their purported bus fleet. They informed the complainants that they needed to sell their buses and buy new ones, and $2 million was collected from them for this purpose.
An investment
When the new buses were not forthcoming, the complainants made a police report. Poorman was arrested on August 28. Saunders was held on September 24.
In another matter before the court, Poorman had approached a male complainant and taken $100,000 from him, purportedly as an investment in a company the defendant was affiliated with.
Last Friday, Saunders told presiding magistrate Ann-Marie Granger that she had made contact with the office of attorney-at-law Peter Champagnie, to represent the couple.
"I contacted the lawyer's office, and they said he would be here today," said Saunders, as both she and Poorman admitted they did not have money to repay the complainants that day.
But clerk of the court Natalie Malcolm took issue with the defendants' statement concerning their legal representation.
"We have been told this numerous times before, and I wonder if Mr Champagnie has been given instructions," said Malcolm. "This has been an ongoing matter for a number of years, and it seems to be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, because as soon as one matter is complete, others come up."
RM Granger subsequently extended Saunders' bail and remanded Poorman in police custody.
"On December 15, you come with some money so you will be able to give money to these persons (complainants) who are here," RM Granger told the two defendants.
No comments:
Post a Comment