Tertiary student appears in court for alleged online scam

Twenty year old Natasha Singh a tertiary student of Suva who is alleged to have been involved in an online scam involving more than $72,000 appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court today.

The case was transferred to the High Court when it was first called however, Justice Temo transferred the matter to the Magistrates Court saying that the Magistrates Court has the jurisdiction to hear the case.

Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili transferred the matter to Magistrates Court 2 where the case was first called.

The case has been adjourned to 11th April.

It is alleged that she received more than $72,000 which was sent to her via internet banking by someone she had befriended online.

It is also alleged that upon receiving instructions from her online friend, she then withdrew $10,000 of which $7,000 was later sent to several recipients in Nigeria.

Meanwhile an investigation was carried out and it was discovered that the money sent to her account was illegally transferred from an account in Australia.

Story by: Praneeta Prakash