Job scammer remanded for sentencing

21-y-o’s elaborate scheme netted US$7,000

Tanesha Mundle

Monday, October 11, 2010

A man who scammed several persons out of nearly US$7,000 after they registered for overseas employment on a nonexistent apple farm in Michigan in the United States, was on Friday remanded for sentencing on November 17 in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Kemar Harrison, the 21-year-old mastermind of the elaborate scheme which saw persons attending job registrations at different hotels across the island, pleaded guilty to three counts of obtaining money by false pretence, reduced from seven counts, when he appeared in court.

The court was told that Harrison placed an advertisement in one of the daily newspapers on August 29, stating that jobs were available at Jay’s Apple Farm. Interested persons who called to enquire were also informed about available jobs at another company, Davidson’s Construction Company.

According to the investigating officer, arrangements were made at the Altamont Court Hotel in Kingston and at other hotels for persons to attend and register.

The investigating officer also told the court that Harrison also employed a bearer and other persons to collect the money and the documents from the job seekers.

Harrison was arrested on September 7 during a sting operation at his home where he was seen collecting money that was collected from some of the complainants. Several documents relating to the fake job scam were seized along with US$1,650, and $13,000.

On Friday, Harrison’s attorney Ian Bishop asked Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey to instruct the police to turn over the money to his client for him to return it to the complainants. But the magistrate told him that the proceeds of crime could not be released to repay the complainants and has been confiscated by the State.

Bishop requested a social enquiry report on Harrison.

The attorney also begged the magistrate to offer his client bail for him to repay the complainants but the magistrate refused his request.

“Let him stay where he is. He is too clever,” she said.