Still no bail for 5 in dead claim scam
THE Accountant General’s Department (AGD) employee and his four co-accused who reportedly defrauded the Government agency of $21.7 million in a dead claims scam, were again denied bail yesterday.
The accused men, 35-year-old accounting technician Julio Parkinson of the AGD, Kemar Lewis, Rameish Watson, Anthony Monroe and Troy Blythe are scheduled to renew their bail applications on charges of conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and obtaining money by false pretences on December 19, in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.
The men were remanded and their bail applications put on hold after the prosecutor yesterday informed the court that the case files were incomplete and requested additional time.
Parkinson’s 32-year-old sister Meisha, who has also been implicated in the matter, had her bail extended. She is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Allegations are that between February and October of this year, Julio Parkinson, allegedly in collusion with the four men, opened accounts at Scotiabank branches across the Corporate Area. Watson, it is alleged, created certificates in the names of pensioners who were deceased and $21.7 million was paid out to the various accounts.
Meisha Parkinson was charged after allegations that she allowed a man access to her brother’s house to remove evidence.
According to the prosecution, $6.9 million was deposited into Parkinson’s bank account, while some $1.74 million was deposited into Munroe’s account. Watson’s account was allegedly topped up to the tune of $3 million, and $1.7 million was placed in Lewis’ account. Some $10.8 million was allegedly placed in the accounts of Blythe and another men who is yet to be held.
The investigations into the matter reportedly started after Munroe attempted to withdraw $3 million from his bank account.