ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Harvey Dawkins, a man from Mount Royal Estate in Portmore, is scheduled to stand trial on January 30 next year in connection with an alleged Canadian employment scam.
Dawkins is facing four counts of obtaining money by false pretence, as well as charges under the Consumer Protection Act and for operating an employment agency without a licence.
The trial date was set on Friday, October 3 in court. During that hearing, US$600 was paid in restitution to two complainants who had reportedly been defrauded.
Dawkins’ attorney, Earl Hamilton, applied to have the reporting conditions of his client’s bail adjusted, but the judge denied the request. Dawkins remains free on $600,000 bail.
According to investigators, the alleged scam took place in March 2024, when Dawkins convinced the two complainants that he had connections to a Canadian job programme. He reportedly collected funds from the individuals, both residents of St Catherine, under the pretense of securing overseas employment.
However, no travel arrangements were made, and the promised opportunities never materialized. When no refunds were issued, the victims alerted the police. Dawkins was later arrested and charged with fraud.
