FORMER Caldon Finance director, Nicole Fullerton, was yesterday held trying to leave the island a day after she was found guilty of fraudulent conversion of more than $15 million.

Fullerton was held by the police at the Norman Manley International Airport as she attempted to board a flight to the United States. Police say Fullerton was recognised by a police officer who summoned an inspector and informed him.

The police then held her and made contact with officials at the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court, where she was convicted on Monday and scheduled to be sentenced on December 14. Officers were instructed to keep Fullerton in custody until she is brought before the court this afternoon.

It was not clear if the court had issued a stop order on Fullerton or had ordered that she surrender her travel documents.

A police source told the Observer that Fullerton denied that she was trying to flee from justice but was “only travelling for a few days”.

On Monday, Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey instructed Fullerton to make arrangements to repay the money as it would go a far way in influencing the court’s decision in handing down a sentence.

Nicole Fullerton and her father Henry, were both charged with obtaining money by false pretence and fraudulent conversion after businessman Colin Karjohn entrusted them with US$133,000 and J$10 million. Karjohn lost his investment after the financial institution went bankrupt and was liquidated in 1998.

Karjohn then filed a complaint with the Fraud Squad and the Fullertons were arrested and charged in 2003.