KINGSTON, Jamaica — A woman has been given one week to make full restitution to a scamming victim or be remanded in custody.

Charged with obtaining money under false pretences is Sashauna Lawson. Lawson appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday with only a small portion of the cash she was supposed to return to a victim of a rental scam she was allegedly involved in.

The accused allegedly participated in a rental scam involving another man and woman where she was instructed to introduce herself under the false name of Stacy Ann Nunes and show a rental listing.

Money was then paid to her employer in relation to the listing. The amount of cash was not disclosed in court.

The woman had been released from custody on humanitarian grounds to gather the total sum, but returned without it.

Immediately, Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell contemplated returning her to custody, but it was revealed that the woman had brought her young baby along with her.

The Child Care and Protection Act forbids the presence of children other than infants in arms in court unless the child is strictly needed and instructs the court to order the removal of children outside of that circumstance.

Speaking firmly, Burrell said, “I am giving her until next week to return with the money and we will call the CPFSA (Child Protection and Family Services Agency) if you dare come here with the baby and not the money.”

She is to return to court on December 9.

— Dana Malcolm