Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:

The Westmoreland couple before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on several fraud charges will return on Friday.

André Poorman, from George's Plain, is jointly charged with Latesha Saunders for fraudulent conversion, obtaining money by false pretence and conspiracy to defraud. Saunders had her bail extended, while Poorman was remanded.

In one of the cases against the couple, it is alleged that in August 2013, they purported to be operators of a tour company, approached the complainants and asked them to lease their buses to their purported bus fleet. They informed the complainants that they needed to sell their buses and buy new ones, and $2 million was collected from them for this purpose.

When the new buses were not forthcoming, the complainants made a police report. Poorman was arrested on August 28. Saunders was held on September 24.

In another matter before the court, Poorman had approached a male complainant and took $100,000 from him, purportedly as an investment in a company the defendant was affiliated with.

Presiding magistrate Carolyn Tie was told that the couple is expected to bring approximately US$11,000 to court, to offset the balance of funds owed to the complainants.

"My lawyer was doing the paperwork in terms of the funds," Poorman explained, adding that his attorney would not be present at court.

The matter was subsequently set for mention on Friday.