A woman accused of selling a rented motor car was offered $500,000 bail when she appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Twenty-three-year-old Tashay Smith, a resident of Rainford Road in Kingston, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, simple larceny, obtaining money by false pretence, and receiving stolen property.

Allegations are that one of the complainants rented a motor car to a woman by the name of Marsha Williams, on behalf of the registered owner, for the period August to October 7.

On October 7, several attempts were made to reach Williams on her cellular phone. However, the calls went unanswered.

It was later found out that Smith had allegedly sold the said vehicle on October 5 for $690,000 without the knowledge and consent of the registered owner.

Smith allegedly told the buyers, a couple, that she was selling the car for a relative who was overseas at the time, and that the documents were already stamped and signed at the tax office.

The complainants reportedly went to the tax office to transfer the vehicle to their names when they were informed of the irregularities. They reported the matter to the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC).

Smith was subsequently arrested at her home. A copy of the receipt issued to the complainants and the registration plates for the vehicle were allegedly found at the home.

The original copy of the title for the motor vehicle is currently at a financial institution.

Smith is to return to court for a case management hearing on November 26.

— Racquel Porter