ATTORNEY Tom Tavares-Finson on Thurdsday professed the innocence of alleged lottery scam mastermind Shawn Lawrence, telling the court that the police had no evidence to support their claim against the Montego Bay businessman.

The 29-year-old Lawrence, who operates an auto parts business in the second city, made his first appearance in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday since his recent arrest on allegations that he led a group which had been scamming unsuspecting United States citizens out of millions of dollars.

But during the hearing, Tavares-Finson lashed out at the police for branding his client as one of the masterminds behind the lotto scam.

According to the attorney, the police did not have any evidence linking his client to the scam. Tavares-Finson told the court that he was not of the view that his client — who is facing a charge of money laundering — was involved in calling anyone and that when the police raided his home all they found were titles.

The accused was arrested on September 20 at his multimillion-dollar home in Bogue Village, Montego Bay, during an early-morning raid that formed part of extensive investigations by law enforcement authorities from the United States and Jamaica into the scam.

Thirteen other persons — nine of whom have since been released — were also detained at separate locations across St James.

Several items were seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, among them a $70-million commercial property; a residential property valued at $110 million; as well as four motor cars, which include a 2012 Mercedes-Benz; several computers; call lists, and other equipment believed to be used in the lottery scam.

According to the prosecution, Lawrence led a group of persons who was part of the lotto scam. These persons allegedly placed several calls to a number of persons in the US, whose names were randomly selected, informing them that they won the Jamaican Super Lotto.

The persons contacted were instructed to send money to Jamaica in order to collect their prize. The prosecution is alleging that Lawrence collected the money and used it to purchase several properties in the names of other persons.

Lawrence was yesterday remanded into custody until October 27 after the investigating officer requested two weeks to further the probe.