Andrew ‘French’ retains Champagnie in $222-m INSPORTS fraud case
KINGSTON, Jamaica— King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie has confirmed that he has been approached to represent popular ‘Chug IT’ and ‘French Connection’ party promoter Andrew ‘French’ Wright, who was arrested in connection with a $222 million fraud racket, committed at the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS).
Wright is one of three men who were arrested on Wednesday by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) in connection with the fraud which is said to have taken place between 2011 and 2017.
“I have been approached to represent him,” Champagnie said in a brief statement.
The two other men arrested are Rudolph Barnes and Oneil Hope.
READ: Party promoter implicated in $222-million INSPORTS fraud
All three are alleged to have been part of a team of former employees of INSPORTS, who wrote, signed and encashed fraudulent cheques for payees who were neither employees nor contracted workers of the entity.
The suspected fraud and other irregularities were detected by INSPORTS in 2017 during an examination of their financial records.
The matter was then reported to MOCA, triggering an investigation.
The three have been charged with various offences including conspiracy to defraud, acquisition and possession of criminal property, engaging in transactions involving criminal property and larceny as a servant.
