ST JAMES, Jamaica – The two individuals charged by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) following a targeted operation in Montego Bay and Portmore last Friday have been given bail.

The bail was granted when the two, who are charged in relation to a more than $4-million fraud investigation at the Human Employment and Resources Training/National Services Training Agency Trust (HEART/NSTA), made an appearance in the St James Parish Court on Tuesday.

The two are former Heart/NSTA Trust employee Simoes Ellis, of a Gregory Park, Portmore address, and a former participant in a Heart/NSTA Trust programme, Kevina Atkins, a resident of Salt Spring, St James.

Ellis was charged with larceny as a servant, possession of criminal property, and conspiracy, while Atkins was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of criminal property, and conspiracy to defraud.

A third person, said to be a family member of one of the accused, was taken into custody but was not charged.

On Wednesday, Ellis was offered bail in the sum of $1 million with one to three sureties. A stop order was placed at all ports of entry, travel documents were surrendered and fingerprints were taken.

Atkins on the other hand was given bail in the sum of $600.000 with one to two sureties. She was also ordered to surrender all travel documents and her fingerprints taken. A stop order was placed at all ports of entry.

The two are to return to court on February 12, 2025 for case management.

According to MOCA, about 5:00 am on Friday, MOCA teams, backed by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, swarmed the two properties in search of a number of people suspected to be involved in the fraud under investigation.

One suspect was found and held at the Portmore location and the other two at their home in Montego Bay. A search of their respective premises turned up a number of evidential items which were subsequently seized.

– Anthony Lewis.