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British Woman Featured in Netflix Documentary Charged with Fraud Following Show’s Airing
A British woman, Dionne Marie Hanna, who gained notoriety after being featured in the Netflix documentary “Con Mum,” has been formally charged with fraud in Singapore. The 84-year-old, dubbed a ‘con mum,’ allegedly deceived her son and others to finance a lavish lifestyle. Her alleged schemes, involving claims of Brunei royal family inheritance and requests for legal fees, unraveled after purported victims watched the documentary detailing her exploits.
Fraud Charges Filed Against ‘Con Mum’ Dionne Marie Hanna
Dionne Marie Hanna, aged 84 and a resident of Singapore, is facing five counts of fraud across three separate victims. She made a court appearance via video link on Saturday after formal charges were filed against her in Singapore. The accusations revolve around Hanna allegedly defrauding individuals by promising reimbursement through a supposed inheritance from the Brunei royal family.
Netflix Documentary ‘Con Mum’ Triggered Investigation
The fraud charges reportedly emerged after alleged victims watched “Con Mum” on Netflix. The documentary highlighted how Hanna purportedly ruined the life of her son, Graham Hornigold, a renowned pastry chef. According to the documentary, Hanna contacted Hornigold in 2020, claiming to be his long-lost mother.
Son Scammed Out of Hundreds of Thousands
DNA testing subsequently confirmed Hanna’s claim to be Graham Hornigold’s mother. However, Hornigold alleges that after re-establishing contact, the 84-year-old systematically defrauded him out of hundreds of thousands of pounds. The documentary claimed that Hanna presented herself to her son as a successful international entrepreneur before allegedly deceiving the London-based chef for substantial sums of money.
Court Appearance and Allegations of Deception
Hanna appeared before the court via video link, reportedly from a hospital bed at Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore, according to local news reports. The reason for her presence in the medical facility remains unclear. The charges accuse her of deceiving three men in Singapore and France into transferring funds to her bank accounts. She purportedly claimed the money was needed for legal expenses and to establish new bank accounts.
Claims of Royal Connections and Terminal Illness
To allegedly manipulate her victims, Hanna reportedly invoked sympathy by falsely claiming to be terminally ill. She also pledged to repay victims through her purported connections to the Brunei royal family. These claims were directly challenged by her son in the Netflix documentary, who recounted experiencing a similar scam.
Promises of Donations to Religious Organizations
In exchange for financial contributions from her victims, the court was informed that Hanna also vowed to donate millions of dollars to a mosque and a Muslim non-profit organisation based in Singapore.
Police Investigation Launched After Documentary Airs
Following the broadcast of the “Con Mum” Netflix documentary last month, Singaporean police confirmed receiving multiple complaints from individuals claiming to be victims of fraud. The total amount of money lost by victims remains unclear.
Preliminary Investigation Reveals Significant Losses
However, investigators stated that a preliminary investigation revealed Hanna’s alleged involvement in at least five fraud cases, with reported losses exceeding £115,000. Police stated, ‘As part of the arrangement to receive monies for the investment and inheritance, the victims were asked to transfer money for legal fees and opening of overseas bank accounts.’ ‘The victims believed her investment and release of inheritance to be genuine and made several transfers to her.’
Potential Jail Sentence for Convicted ‘Con Mum’
If found guilty, Hanna could face a severe penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and a substantial fine.
Son’s Account of Deception in Netflix Documentary
The Netflix documentary “Con Mum” detailed Graham Hornigold’s experience. Born on a British Army base in Germany and raised in St Albans, Hornigold, now 50, grew up with an abusive father who provided minimal information about his mother, simply stating she had left.
Lavish Gifts and Building Trust
Hornigold recounted that upon their initial reunion, Hanna presented herself as the wealthy, illegitimate daughter of the Sultan of Brunei. She reportedly showered Hornigold, his then-partner Heather Kaniuk, and friends with extravagant gifts, ranging from vehicles to properties.
Skepticism and Growing Concerns
Despite initial scepticism, Mr. Hornigold, a chef who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and founded Longboys Doughnuts, developed a close emotional connection with Hanna. As Hanna’s health seemingly deteriorated, she informed her son of her desire for him to inherit her wealth, stipulating the need to travel to Switzerland to establish a bank account in his name.
Partner’s Suspicions and Discovery of Fraud
Heather Kaniuk, Hornigold’s partner at the time, became suspicious after discovering he had transferred £100,000 into his mother’s accounts. Ms. Kaniuk, who later separated from Mr. Hornigold, stated in the documentary, ‘I started becoming very afraid of who this woman was. I realised I was on a train heading for a wreck and I needed to save Graham.’
£300,000 Loss Claimed by Son
In total, Mr. Hornigold, who has previously appeared as a guest judge on Junior Bake Off, claimed he was defrauded of £300,000 by his mother.
Next Court Hearing Scheduled
Hanna’s next court hearing is scheduled for Friday, April 11.
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