Netflix’s “Con Mum” Star Charged with Five Counts of Fraud in Singapore Courts

By
Loh Huey Xin
-
Advertisements
 

British national Dionne Marie Hanna, 84, featured in Netflix documentary Con Mum, was charged in Singapore’s State Courts on 5 Apr 2025 with five counts of fraud by false representation involving three victims.

Here’s what happened.

Netflix Star Faces Multiple Fraud Charges in Singapore

Hanna appeared in court via videolink while lying on a hospital bed at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, dressed in a striped shirt.

Advertisements
 

She was unrepresented and accompanied by an investigating officer.

The charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred in Singapore and France between February and March 2025.

According to court documents, Hanna allegedly deceived Mr Mohamed Ariffin Mohamed Kawaja Kamaludin at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Singapore from 13 Feb to 14 Feb by falsely claiming she was terminally ill with cancer.

She reportedly expressed intent to donate $3 million to Masjid Khalid and $2 million to Mawar Community Services, a registered society that helps ex-offenders.

Between 17 Feb and 10 Mar in Singapore, Hanna allegedly lied to Mr Paiman Supangat that she was from the Brunei royal family, suffering from terminal cancer, and wished to distribute her wealth to him and his son.

While in France between 28 Feb and 10 Mar, she allegedly led Mr Paiman to believe she would repay money borrowed for personal shopping expenses.

During 3 Mar to 5 Mar, also in France, she allegedly deceived him into thinking he needed to pay legal fees for opening a bank account and to increase her contribution amount to him.

On 10 Mar in Singapore, Hanna allegedly misled Mr Mohamed Syafiq Paiman by claiming she had terminal cancer and wanted to distribute her wealth to him.

Advertisements
 

The judge granted the prosecution’s application to have Hanna remanded for a week upon her discharge from the hospital and allowed her to be taken out for investigations into similar offenses.

Her case will be heard again on 11 Apr.

Netflix Documentary Reveals Pattern of Deception

Singapore police began receiving reports from victims on 28 Mar, days after Con Mum premiered on Netflix on 25 Mar.

The victims reportedly only realized they had been scammed after seeing Hanna featured in the documentary.

Advertisements
 

The police stated that Hanna is believed to be involved in at least five cases of cheating with losses exceeding $200,000.

Victims were allegedly asked to transfer money for legal fees and opening of overseas bank accounts with promises of reimbursement through Hanna’s inheritance.

Con Mum chronicles how London pastry chef Graham Hornigold’s life was disrupted when Hanna, claiming to be his long-lost mother, reappeared in 2020 after 45 years of absence.

Presenting herself as a wealthy daughter of the sultan of Brunei, she allegedly conned Mr Hornigold and other victims out of more than £300,000 ($520,000), according to the documentary.

The situation reportedly led to Mr Hornigold’s separation from his partner.

Advertisements
 

The documentary features interviews with Mr Hornigold, his ex-partner, and other alleged victims.

Hanna declined to participate in the filming.

At the documentary’s conclusion, a DNA test confirms that Hanna is indeed Mr Hornigold’s biological mother.

At the end of the documentary, Mr Hornigold is shown having a video call with Hanna, who claimed to be in Malaysia. Her whereabouts were unknown until her arrest in Singapore.

If convicted of fraud by false representation in Singapore, Hanna faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine, or both.

These five GRCs could see the tightest battle in GE2025; here’s why:

Read Also:


 
Loh Huey Xin