WESTERN BUREAU - The case against the Montego Bay-based Sports Data Services Limited and its managing director, Spiros George Athanas, who are accused of illegally carrying out internet betting, was postponed yesterday because of an incomplete case file.

The case is to be brought back before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on July 26 when all outstanding statements should have been added to the file. RM Wilson Smith has opted not to have Athanas fingerprinted until then.

His decision came in the wake of submissions from the accused man's attorneys - Norma Linton QC and Clayton Morgan - who argued that it was important to first determine whether Athanas should have been charged.

Morgan later told reporters that as a mere employee of the company, Athanas should not have been charged.

Athanas and Sports Data Services Limited are alleged to have carried on the business of poolbetting and bookmaking at Olympic Data Services Limited (a subsidiary of Sports Data Services Limited) without being licensed or authorised to do so. This alleged offence, the prosecution contends, is in breach of section 20a of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act.

The company was licensed by JAMPRO to operate as a telemarketing agency when it was established at the Free Zone in 1996. However the company has allegedly been operating outside the ambits of that license, taking bets both locally and overseas via calls made to its 1-800 number.

Morgan took issue with the allegations yesterday, insisting that the company's operations were in accordance with the telemarketing license that it was granted by JAMPRO.

"We are saying that telemarketing is broad enough to include betting and gaming so you need no further permission from the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission to do it," the attorney said. "The Memorandum of Association of Olympic Sports Limited gives them permission to do betting and gaming offshore."

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