ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Charges of obtaining money by false pretence and fraudulent conversion have been filed against a woman accused of defrauding a businessman of nearly $1 million in order to secure a property for him.

The incidents reportedly took place between March and September of 2023 in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Charged is 35-year-old Shanna-Marie Maragh of Kavita Crescent, Spanish Town.

According to the Spanish Town Police, Maragh, posing as a secretary for a construction company, allegedly collected $1,900,000 from a businessman between Thursday, March 7, and Thursday, April 13, 2023, to secure a property for him. Another incident of a similar nature occurred between March and September of last year, where she purportedly sold properties totalling $1,500,000 and $2,500,000 to two men.

After repeated attempts to secure the title for the lots and unsuccessful requests for refunds, a report of the failed transactions was made to the police.

Following an investigation, Maragh was taken into custody and charged after a question-and-answer session.