KINGSTON, Jamaica— A Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldier who was implicated in a phishing scam that reportedly defrauded the National Commercial Bank of $47 million has been charged.

The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) said that 25-year-old Garrick Lewis was charged on Friday, November 29, following his arrest last Tuesday.

READ: JDF soldier arrested in $47-m phishing scam

He has been charged with the offences of acquisition of criminal property, engaging in a transaction involving criminal property, facilitating the use of criminal property and receiving stolen property.

MOCA informed that Garrick’s suspected accomplice, 33-year-old Romone Thompson, who was already in police custody for separate crimes, was similarly charged and returned to custody.

Reports are that between April and June 2022, Garrick, who is suspected of being part of a wider organised criminal syndicate, helped to illegally access funds from a number of NCB accounts through an online phishing scam. It is further alleged that the stolen money was subsequently transferred to various beneficiary accounts, which have since been used to withdraw funds or further transfer them to other banking institutions.

“Garrick and Thompson are suspected to be part of a wider syndicate of criminals involved in the offence and so MOCA is inviting anyone with more information on this crime to report what they know to the Agency’s tip line, 888-MOCA-TIP,” said Major Basil Jarrett, director of communications at MOCA.

The JDF, in a press release, stated that it is cooperating fully with the Jamaica Constabulary Force in the investigation. It went on to reiterate its commitment to “upholding the highest standards of professionalism and discipline among its members”.