A mother and son, accused of fleecing over US$600,000 ($42.6 million) from American citizens in a lottery scam, appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Mag-istrate's court on Wednesday.

Yowo Senhi Morle, 27, and his 48-year-old mother, Hazel Clarke, both from Bogue Village, St James, appeared to answer to charges of obtaining money by false pretence, conspiracy to defraud and engaging in transactions that involve criminal property.

The court was told that the accused contacted complainants in the United States and told them that they won the Australian lottery and that they should send varying sums to collect their winnings.

One of the complainants was said to be a 74-year-old woman who the accused collected US$400,000 ($28.4 million) from. They are accused of collecting over US$600,000 from the complainants.

The court was also told that Clarke was found with a list of names and numbers belonging to complainants and the amounts they have paid.

Linton Walters, who is representing the accused, made a bail application for both, noting that 12 other persons were before the court in regard to the same lottery scam, and to date there are no statements from any of the complainants on those files, and he felt it would be no different in this case.

In addition, he said his clients were willing to submit to any bail conditions imposed by the court. However, the Crown indicated that it was opposed to bail for Morle because of the amount of money collected and property seized, they believed he posed a flight risk. The police say they have seized property and money valuing $38 million so far, including a bank account with $4.9 million.

The police also said the accused used fake identification to collect the money from Western Union, and that was also one of their concerns regarding giving him bail.

After listening to both sides, Resident Magistrate Glen Brown granted Clarke $1 million bail with one, two or three sureties, and also ordered her fingerprints be taken.