Authorities in Singapore have charged 84-year-old British national Dionne Marie Hanna with fraud after the release of Netflix’s Con Mum stirred public backlash. The documentary exposed how Hanna allegedly manipulated several people—including her biological son—by pretending to be wealthy and making false promises of financial rewards. After the film’s release, some of her alleged victims filed police complaints, prompting her arrest.
Hanna Promised Inheritance from Royalty
Hanna reportedly tricked at least three men in Singapore and France into transferring money into her accounts. She told them the funds were needed to pay legal fees and to open new bank accounts. In return, she promised repayment from an inheritance she claimed to have from the Brunei royal family. To win sympathy, she also said she was terminally ill. Moreover, she vowed to donate millions to a mosque and a Muslim charity in Singapore. Her son, Graham Hornigold, raised doubts about these claims in the documentary.
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She Reached Out Claiming to Be His Mother
Back in 2020, Hanna contacted Hornigold, claiming to be his long-lost mother. A DNA test confirmed their biological connection. Initially, Hanna won over Graham, his partner Heather Kaniuk, and their friends by showering them with expensive gifts, including cars and homes. However, the situation changed. Over time, she began relying on them to pay her growing bills. “I lost £300,000,” Graham said in the film, describing how he funded her lifestyle before she disappeared.
Court Appearance from Hospital Bed
On Saturday, Hanna appeared in a Singapore court via video link. She was seen lying on a hospital bed, accompanied by an investigating officer, according to Channel NewsAsia. Prosecutors have charged her with five counts of fraud. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine.
Losses Cross S$200,000
Singapore police said initial investigations link Hanna to at least five fraud cases, with total losses exceeding S$200,000 (about $149,000 or £115,400). The documentary also suggests that she has a history of crime, including past convictions for shoplifting and fraud in the UK.
Con Mum, released on Netflix on 25 March, follows Hornigold’s painful reunion with a mother he never knew, only to discover layers of deception and financial betrayal.
