WESTERN BUREAU:

A St Mary man accused of fleecing $380,539 from two individuals in 2012 under the pretence of offering overseas employment, was remanded in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court recently.

Jason Sommerville, who is originally from Port Maria, St Mary but living in Norwood, St James, is charged with obtaining money by false pretence and conspiracy to defraud, and is to be brought back to court on May 22.

Allegations are that Sommerville created a number of fraudulent websites and newspaper advertisements offering jobs in the hotel industry in the United States.

He then collected an undetermined sum of money from several persons who applied for the offered jobs over a period of time. In April 2012, one applicant reportedly gave separate payments of J$16,000 and US$1,200 (J$114,539.98), and another person paid J$250,000.

However, subsequent checks revealed that the advertised jobs were non-existent, and following investigations, Sommerville was arrested and charged on February 26, 2013.

"Where do you live?" Resident Magistrate (RM) Sandria Wong-Small asked the accused man.

"I live in Norwood about four months now," said Sommerville.

"Where were you living before that?" the magistrate asked.

"Paradise, Norwood," replied Sommerville, prompting chuckles in the courtroom.

"Look here, who do you think you are talking to? Norwood and Paradise, Norwood are the same place," said an irritated RM Wong-Small. "How long have you been living there?"

"Seven months," admitted Sommerville.

Meanwhile, the prosecution expressed opposition to bail for Sommerville on the grounds that he had previously absconded while in police custody in Port Maria on similar charges.

"He (Sommerville) had absconded from the Port Maria police in 2010 ... he was sentenced, in absentia, to one year (in prison) on similar offences," clerk of the court Natalie Malcolm informed the court.

"It looks like you will be serving your year, this matter will be mentioned on May 22. You are remanded until then," RM Wong-Small advised Sommerville.