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Men accused of house sale racket remanded
Two men accused of swindling $7.5 million from a woman for a house which was not on sale were yesterday remanded into custody when they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.
Christopher Small, an unemployed resident of Portmore in St Catherine, who is believed to be the mastermind, and his co-accused Michael Harriot, 40, a construction worker, were remanded into custody until March 15 after the court was informed that the case file was incomplete.
Allegations are that Small placed an advertisement in a local newspaper for the sale of a four-bedroom house on Meadowbrook Avenue, St Andrew. The complainant reportedly responded to the advertisement and contacted Small, who did not give her his real name.
Arrangements were allegedly made for the complainant to meet with Small, and the woman was given documents to sign and instructions to write a cheque in the name of his co-accused, whom he claimed was his attorney. The complainant reportedly paid for the house on December 11 last year. Shortly after, the complainant was said to be carrying out repairs to the house when the real owner of the premises showed up and the fraud uncovered.
The matter was reported and Small, who police said used the money to purchase a 2007 BMW valued at $4.1 million, was held in the car in Old Harbour, St Catherine. Harriot surrendered to the police.
Harriot is charged with conspiracy to defraud while Small is charged with money laundering, possession of forged documents and conspiracy to defraud.
Two men accused of swindling $7.5 million from a woman for a house which was not on sale were yesterday remanded into custody when they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.
Christopher Small, an unemployed resident of Portmore in St Catherine, who is believed to be the mastermind, and his co-accused Michael Harriot, 40, a construction worker, were remanded into custody until March 15 after the court was informed that the case file was incomplete.
Allegations are that Small placed an advertisement in a local newspaper for the sale of a four-bedroom house on Meadowbrook Avenue, St Andrew. The complainant reportedly responded to the advertisement and contacted Small, who did not give her his real name.
Arrangements were allegedly made for the complainant to meet with Small, and the woman was given documents to sign and instructions to write a cheque in the name of his co-accused, whom he claimed was his attorney. The complainant reportedly paid for the house on December 11 last year. Shortly after, the complainant was said to be carrying out repairs to the house when the real owner of the premises showed up and the fraud uncovered.
The matter was reported and Small, who police said used the money to purchase a 2007 BMW valued at $4.1 million, was held in the car in Old Harbour, St Catherine. Harriot surrendered to the police.
Harriot is charged with conspiracy to defraud while Small is charged with money laundering, possession of forged documents and conspiracy to defraud.