A fruit vendor found in possession of ganja and money she could not properly account for was denied bail in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, pending investigation into 'lotto scam' documents found in her possession.

Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry yesterday remanded Melissa Brown, 20, until April 15.

Brown, from Johns Hall, St James, claimed the money belonged to her boyfriend, who was with her when she was arrested. He was not charged.

The court heard that on April 6, the police observed Brown and her boyfriend at the intersection of Williams and St James streets acting suspiciously. The police searched Brown, who was pulling a suitcase.

While searching the suitcase, three-quarters of a pound of ganja was found in a secret compartment. The police also found smaller parcels of ganja and ganja seed in another section. Her handbag was also searched and two passports, belonging to her boyfriend, were found, along with $71,200, US$3 and folders containing a list of names and numbers belonging to persons in the United States, with instruction of what is to be said to them when they are contacted.

Brown gave conflicting accounts of how she got the money. The documents were handed over to the Area One Fraud Squad as they bore the hallmarks of the infamous lottery scam. She was charged with unlawful possession of property (money), possession and dealing in ganja, and possession of an offensive weapon, as she was also held with a knife.