MONTEGO BAY, St James — The St James Parish Court on Monday heard allegations against a St James woman accused of posing as a landlord and, in a carefully orchestrated scam, fleeced another of $70,000.

The defendant, Yanique Gordon, who is presently in police custody, was not transported to court and no explanation was offered for her absence.

Presiding Parish Judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley remanded her in custody, in absentia, until September 6.

The date of the incident was not given but prosecutors allege that the complainant was looking for a place to live and Gordon offered to rent her a one-bedroom apartment in West Green, St James.

The court was told that the complainant paid the accused woman $70,000, and a set of keys were handed over to her.

However, the complainant got the shock of her life when she tried to access the premises and the keys did not work.

The matter was reported to the police who launched an investigation which revealed that Gordon was not the owner of the premises, and had manipulated the situation to deceive the complainant.

Gordon was subsequently arrested and charged with obtaining money by false pretences.

MONTEGO BAY, St James — The trial of a St James man who was charged in connection with the seizure of approximately 5.5 pounds of cocaine at Sangster International Airport got underway in the parish court on Monday.

The defendant, Jermaine Scott, was arrested on January 29 after investigators assigned to the Narcotics Division arrested him at the airport. He was taken into custody after cocaine with a street value of approximately US$25,000 was allegedly found in his possession during a law enforcement operation by the narcotics and Customs’ Contraband Enforcement Team (CET).

A customs officer assigned to CET was the only witness to testify on Monday.

He testified that about 11:13 am he was conducting operations on incoming flights and went to the restroom at gate #2. He said upon entering, he noticed a ramp attendant who was exiting the facility. According to him, the man immediately turned around and informed him that he had left his raincoat inside.

The customs officer outlined that the man removed a blue raincoat from behind a cubicle and, as he was about to leave, he stopped him and asked that he allow him to look at the coat. He said the man was reluctant to comply with his request and held on to the coat.

He said the man eventually handed him the coat, which felt unusually heavy and had a package in the pocket, leading him to suspect it contained narcotics.

As a result, the customs officer said, he contacted members of his team and narcotics officers, and the man was escorted to the narcotics office where four rectangular packages with cocaine were found.

Scott’s attorney, Henry McCurdy, then cross-examined the customs officer but no other witnesses were summoned to the stand.

Presiding Judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley subsequently set the case for continuation on October 3, and Scott’s bail was extended.