Netflix’s new documentary Con Mum may help bring justice to several alleged victims.
Dionne Marie Hanna, who is the woman at the center of the project, has been charged with five counts of fraud in Singapore after alleged victims watched the documentary and filed police reports of their own, Channel NewsAsia reports.
The alleged victims claim Hanna took their money with the promise that they would be reimbursed through investment opportunities and inheritance entitlements from a royal family.
According to Singapore’s Channel NewsAsia, Hanna was seen in a hospital bed as she appeared in court virtually on April 5. It’s not clear why she was in the medical facility. An investigating officer was with Hanna, who was unrepresented at the time of the hearing.
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Con Mum is available to stream now on Netflix. As the investigation continues, keep reading to learn more about the documentary and the alleged scams Hanna may have been a part of:
What Is ‘Con Mum’ About?
The Netflix documentary tells the story of London-based chef Graham Hornigold, who grew up fantasizing about his absent birth mother.
In 2020, a woman reached out to Hornigold claiming to be the mother he never knew. After asking a series of specific, personal questions to the individual, Hornigold said in the documentary he was convinced Hanna knew enough details about his life to be his mother.
After agreeing to meet Hanna, Hornigold and his pregnant wife, Heather Kaniuk, began a relationship. According to Hornigold, however, Hanna allegedly conned him out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What Is the Shocking Twist in ‘Con Mum’?
In the documentary, Hornigold said he had given Hanna a total of £300,000 after the woman claimed she was dying of cancer. A DNA test shown at the end of the documentary also revealed that the woman was indeed Hornigold’s biological mother.
“You believe she is who she says she is,” Hornigold claimed in the documentary. “But she is a destroyer of lives.” Hanna declined to participate in the documentary but a scene appears to feature her voice and apologizing.
“I love you, son, I’m sorry for what happened,” she purportedly said. “I’ve done what I’ve done, son. I cannot change, son.”
What Is the Impact of ‘Con Mum’ in Singapore?
According to Channel NewsAsia, Singapore police have been receiving reports from individuals claiming to be victims of Hanna since March 28.
The alleged victims only realized that they may have been cheated after Hanna was featured in Con Mum, which became available to watch on Netflix three days earlier.
One victim — who is not Hornigold — said that Hanna also claimed to be terminally ill with cancer and that she wanted to distribute her wealth to him.
