A 20-year-old woman was remanded to His Majesty’s Prison after appearing in St. John’s Magistrates’ Court on serious fraud charges linked to a cheque-cashing business.

The accused, believed to have conspired with at least two others still at large, broke down in court as her phone—central to the investigation—was seized by police.

Acting Chief Magistrate Dexter Wason noted the young woman appeared to have been manipulated by others involved. “This demonstrates a clear conspiracy,” he said, as he ordered weekly reviews of the case and hinted at possible bail under parental supervision.

In an emotional exchange, the defendant questioned why the investigating officer had accessed her Snapchat account and private messages. “Why is he going through my personal chats?” she asked tearfully, accusing the officer of lying about the phone’s whereabouts.

Wason reminded her that the charges could lead to imprisonment, stressing that the case was about more than privacy. Her next hearing is scheduled for September.