Man in alleged AGD scam further remanded
JULIO Parkinson, the alleged mastermind behind the multimillion-dollar scam that was uncovered at the Accountant General’s Department (AGD), was further remanded on Monday when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.
The former AGD employee is accused of conspiring with five people, including his sister, to steal a little over $21 million from the Government.
However, the five co-accused had their bails extended when they appeared in court and along with Parkinson are scheduled to return to court tomorrow.
Four of the accused — Kemar Lewis, Rameish Watson, Anthony Monroe and Troy Blythe — are jointly charged with Parkinson with conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and obtaining money by false pretences.
The fifth accused, Roxanne Crossdale — who was one of Parkinson’s supervisors — is jointly charged with him woth forgery and uttering forged documents while Parkinson’s 32-year-old sister is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Allegations are that, between February and October of last year, Parkinson, allegedly in collusion with the four men, opened accounts at branches of a well known bank 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.
His sister, Meisha, 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 Monroe’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 man who is yet to be held.
The investigations into the matter reportedly started after Monroe attempted to withdraw $3 million from his bank account.
However, Parkinson has since told the court that he is guilty and that he acted alone.
— Tanesha Mundle
