Man accused of using mobile app to fleece cousins of almost $4 million
MONTEGO BAY, St James – A man accused of using a mobile app to transfer almost $4 million from his cousins’ joint bank account is before the court for breaching the Cybercrimes Act.
Shavana Barrett of Redberry, Manchester, has been accused of gaining access to the BNS account of two of his cousins, a male and a female, in September of last year and fraudulently removing $3,974,483 without his cousins’ knowledge or permission.
He allegedly gained access through the female complainant’s cellphone, unlocking the phone and accessing the BNS app from which he transferred money to multiple accounts. The court was told that the phone was given to the accused, but it was not stated why.
The court was also told that when Barrett gained access, the male account holder contacted the female account holder and enquired about the transfers. She replied that she had no knowledge of them.
Shortly after, the bank called her to enquire about the transfers and she stated that she was not responsible, and filed a police report.
In court on Wednesday, Presiding Judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley sought clarity on the Crown’s assertion that Barrett was responsible for the transfers. In response, the investigating officer explained that they had a statement from an individual who said Barrett called to say he would be sending money to the person’s account and gave instructions for the funds to be collected and taken to him.
Attorney-at-law Dalton Reid, who is representing the accused man, told the court that his client has denied the allegations.
Barrett was offered bail in the sum of $1 million with up to two sureties, on condition that he reports to a specific police station on fixed days each week.
He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents, and stop orders were imposed.
The case was then scheduled for him to return to court on September 29. Among the items expected to be presented at that time is a statement from one of the account holders. On Wednesday the clerk of court told the court that the case file was not ready as they were awaiting that item.
