Woman in overseas employment scam remanded
November 16, 2006
CLAUDIA Verona Roberts, the woman charged with masterminding an elaborate overseas employment scam, was further remanded into custody when she appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
However, Roberts' attorney Christopher Townsend told the court that efforts would be made to repay the monies allegedly defrauded from a number of complainants on the next court date, scheduled for November 24.
The attorney told the court that Roberts was willing to sell her assets to facilitate the repayments to the complainants. But Roberts has not pleaded guilty to the charges laid against her.
Roberts, who is from Hermitage, Hope Bay, Portland, is currently facing 100 counts on the charge of obtaining money by false pretences.
The police say the number of people who may have allegedly paid over money to Roberts could exceed 500, and that the total amount of money paid over to her may be in the region of $20 million.
According to the Fraud Squad, Roberts allegedly collected approximately US$2.1 million between June and August this year from at least 100 people who had responded to the advertisement....
Author: Vaughn Davis
Source: Jamaica Observer
