Woman allegedly tries to sell rented Benz

A 27-year-old woman will spend another month in custody as her bail application hearing was stalled on Tuesday, due to concerns by investigators that she intends to flee the island.

Britney Harris is charged on an indictment for obtaining money by means of false pretence, a criminal offence for which she has not yet entered a plea in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court. Harris, who is currently behind bars at a Corporate Area lock-up, is accused of collecting $2.42 million from a male complainant, pretending to be the owner of a 2016 Mercedes Benz.

However, when the complainant received the vehicle, he noticed that the air conditioning was not working and contacted Harris to have it fixed. Sometime thereafter, the true owner of the vehicle reached out to the complainant and revealed that Harris rented the vehicle from him.

"She actually tried to sell a vehicle that she rented," the prosecutor shared. Harris secured legal representation, who tried to have Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque grant bail. But the application ended prematurely based on utterances from the investigator, who informed the court that Harris, 27, has intentions to leave the country.

"Your Honour, she doesn't even have a passport," the lawyer responded to claims of his client's intent to abscond.

"Well, we live on an island, there are other options outside the official ports," Judge Cole-Montaque reasoned.

"Your Honour, based on these new developments, the Crown will ask that the application be postponed, so we can receive further information to address the matter properly," the prosecutor said.

Harris, who signed on court documents that she is willing to repay the sums obtained fraudulently, was made the subject of a fingerprint order and was remanded in custody until October 10 when the matter is set for mention.