Trelawny woman on lotto scam charges for court in February
Published:Wednesday | December 10, 2014 | 5:15 PMChristopher Thomas
WESTERN BUREAU:
The case against a Trelawny woman who was arrested in 2012 during a police operation against the lottery scam, has been deferred to February 11 next year, to allow time for her attorney to receive certain documents from the prosecution.
Twenty-six-year-old Kemisha Simmons, of a Duncans address in Trelawny, had her bail extended when she appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court earlier this month.
When the case was mentioned, the court was told that the prosecution is considering proceeding with its case against Simmons, under the Evidence (Amendment) Act. It was also revealed that the complainant in the matter, who lives in the United States, is mentally incapacitated.
Presiding magistrate Carolyn Tie subsequently set the case for mention on February 11 next year, at which time the prosecution is to provide documentation to defence counsel on the way forward.
Simmons was arrested on August 19, 2012, along with co-accused and common-law husband Kemar Steele, who is now deceased. The couple was arrested during an operation by the Lottery Scam Task Force in Duncans, Trelawny.
Lured to Jamaica
According to the allegations, the American complainant was spotted in a bank in the company of Steele and Simmons. The American was reportedly lured into the country by the two, who were said to have told him that he had won US$37 million and that he should collect it and pay over J$300,000.
It is further alleged that investigations by the police led to a search of the couple's house, where several items, including two laptops with information relating to the illegal scam, other electronics, documents and more than J$100,000 were found.
Steele was charged with conspiracy to defraud, and Simmons was charged with possession of criminal property, money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.