A 60-year-old Filipina domestic worker pleaded not guilty to a charge of fraud in Macau.
The court heard that the defendant Felipe, who is reportedly a domestic worker in Hong Kong, went to Macau in April 2014 to visit her niece, Macao Daily News reported.
The defendant told her niece that she could help arrange a job in Canada, at a cost of 11,028 Macau patacas (US$1,405).
Her niece agreed and allegedly later handed over her 7,000 patacas in four installments, and the rest of the money via ATM transfers during the period from April to September of that year.
In June 2015, the niece introduced the defendant to a friend who also sought a job in Canada. The friend allegedly gave the defendant 25,500 patacas.
When the two alleged victims were later unable to get in touch with the defendant, they reported the case to the police.
The defendant did not attend the hearing of the court of first instance on Wednesday.
She denied the charge of fraud in a statement claiming that she had successfully placed earlier job applicants.
The trial adjourned pending a final ruling.