St Catherine travel agent charged with fraudulent conversion

Fraud charges have been laid against a St Catherine travel agent who allegedly collected more than $1 million from a group of high school teachers to book hotel rooms on their behalf but failed to do so.

The accused is Denese Faulknor, 39 years old, of Waterloo district, Ewarton, St Catherine.

Faulknor was charged by the Spanish Town police on Tuesday with six counts of fraudulent conversion.

It is alleged that the teachers negotiated with the accused to book a package with 20 rooms at a north coast resort for the Labour Day weekend from May 23 to May 25.

The accused was reportedly paid $1.3 million in two tranches, between April 10 and May 14, to secure the accommodations. She reportedly acknowledged receipt of the payments to her bank account.

On May 22 when the group was getting ready for the getaway, the accused revealed that the rooms that were booked had been cancelled.

Faulknor reportedly stated her intention to refund the sums paid, but claimed the money was paid to an unnamed third party.

A report was made to the police and following an investigation Faulknor was arrested and charged.

– Rasbert Turner

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