Woman gets bail in fake kidnapping case
Published:Saturday | July 16, 2022 | 12:11 AM
A St Andrew woman who allegedly tried to swindle $1 million from her family by faking her kidnapping was yesterday offered $100,000 bail when she appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.
Twenty-seven-year-old Shameka Miller was offered bail by Chief Parish Judge Chester Crooks when she made her first appearance in court on extortion and creating public mischief charges.
Her bail was granted on conditions that she surrenders her travel documents and report to the police twice weekly. She is also to abide by a curfew order.
It is alleged that on July 4, Miller conspired with other persons and claimed that she had been kidnapped and that her kidnappers were demanding a ransom for her release.
Her family was reportedly sent a video, which showed a gun being pointed at her head.
However, when the demand for money to secure her release was not met, Miller reported that she was freed on Spanish Town Road in Kingston.
A probe was carried out, leading investigators to suspect that Miller faked her kidnapping.
She was subsequently arrested and later charged by detectives assigned to the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch.
Miller is to return to court on September 8.