KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man accused of tricking a medical aesthetician into accepting counterfeit US dollars was granted bail when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.

Thirty-six-year-old Damion Harvey, a vendor from New Harbour Village, Old Harbour, St Catherine, is currently before the court for larceny by trick.

According to court documents, Harvey visited the complainant’s business establishment to inquire about a dental veneer procedure. While there he proceeded to ask the complainant if he could convert US$400,000 to JM$580,000, which the complainant agreed to.

Harvey reportedly left and sent another individual to conduct the transaction on his behalf, while continuing to communicate with the complainant, who later realised the money was counterfeit US dollars.

When quizzed by Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell about his involvement in the act, Harvey denied the allegations against him.

“I never had any money on me at that time,” he said. “A nuh me the complainant speak to, the complainant never speak to me, a must somebody else, your honour,” Harvey said.

He was granted bail in the sum of $400,000. He is expected to surrender his travel documents and report to the Old Harbour Police Station daily between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

Harvey is set to return to court on April 22, 2025.

— Vanassa McKenzie