KINGSTON, Jamaica — The multimillion-dollar fraud trial of former Education Minister Ruel Reid, former Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) President Fritz Pinnock and their three co-accused Sharen Reid, Sharelle Reid and JLP councillor Kim Brown Lawrence will begin on October 6, a source close to the trial has confirmed.

It had been ruled in 2023, after a judicial review, that the five accused were to face criminal trial.

READ: Ruel Reid and Co to answer to criminal charges following judicial review

The five were implicated in a multimillion-dollar fraud case involving the Caribbean Maritime University in March 2019 after then-Opposition Member of Parliament Dr Peter Phillips called for an investigation into allegations of misuse of public funds.

Reid tendered his resignation to the Senate and as education minister within days, followed in July by Pinnock, who took a leave of absence from his position at CMU.

Months later, in October, after their homes were raided, the suspects were arrested.

The five were charged with breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, conspiracy to defraud, misconduct in a public office at common law and breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Reid and his co-accused had attempted to have the case thrown out, but were unsuccessful.