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'Phony missionary' in $80,000 fraud trial

By LAMECH JOHNSON


Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN accused of using the name of known international missionaries to obtain more than $80,000 from a housewife was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Patricia Edgecombe, 41, of Cable Beach appeared before Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis in Court no.5 facing seven charges of fraud by false pretences, all of which she denied.

It is claimed that on June 19 this year she, with intent to defraud, obtained $7,600 from Maxine Julien by means of false pretences.

It is further claimed that on the following day, June 20, she obtained $10,000 from Ms Julien under false pretences. On July 3, the complainant was defrauded of $11,000, and then $12,000 on July 12. On August 30, $9,000 was obtained from the complainant.

A week later, on September 7, $12,000 was obtained from the complainant under false pretences.

Finally Edgecombe is alleged to have obtained $20,600 from the complainant under false presences on September 11.


On the days in question, the complainant was contacted by a woman claiming to be Paul Morton, TD Jakes and others asking for monitory contributions to help people in need.
 At the end of September, the complainant’s husband received a paper trail of recent withdrawals from their joint account and through inquiries from the complainant, the matter was investigated after being reported to police.


The accused denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all the charges against her.
 She was granted $50,000 bail and was told that she would remain in custody until the bond was signed.


Her trial date was set for January 14, 2013.

Comments

Katerina 10 years, 1 month ago

In my country, lately I heard about this kind of charges. Some people call other people claiming to be another persons, with a fake name, asking for monitory contributions to help people in need. But lucky for them they quickly figure out that something is wrong and they alert the police. http://trataremonturi.wordpress.com/">Katy

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