KINGSTON, Jamaica — A self-proclaimed businessman from St Ann is now before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court accused of tampering with several automated teller machines (ATM) in Kingston.

Levar Henry is accused of attaching skimmer devices, which are capable of reading a user’s card information; and pinhole cameras to several ATMs‎ in early June before being held.‎

The devices were monitored by the perpetrator until they were discovered and the police called in.

Henry, a 29-year-old resident of Mammee Bay, St Ann, is charged with unauthorized obstruction of operation of computer and conspiracy to defraud.‎

A location in the Papine area of St Andrew reportedly suffered a losses of over J$900,000 through Henry’s scheme.

He was offered station bail but when he appeared in court on Friday, Magistrate Georgiana Fraser added conditions before extending his bail.

Among the ‎conditions are that he should maintain one chip registered to his name, that he should report to the St Ann police on a daily basis‎ and that he should stay away from all banks and ATMs.‎

“Even if it is the supermarket,” the magistrate said referring to ATMs, “you don’t have a bank account so you should not visit any.”

He’s to return to court on September 9‎.

Racquel Porter