MONTEGO BAY, St James — A St James man charged in connection with an alleged overseas job-placement scheme maintained his position in court on Wednesday that he had no knowledge of how his banking details were used while he has been in custody for nearly a year.

DeCarlos Christie appeared before Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton in the St James Parish Court on a charge of conspiracy to defraud, arising from allegations that three women were fleeced in a scheme offering overseas employment opportunities. The court heard that in January, the first complainant was introduced to a man allegedly offering overseas placements. She was later provided with a JN Bank account number linked to Christie and deposited $52,000 into the account. A second complainant reportedly made a direct deposit of $205,000 to facilitate processing of a medical examination, police record, and other documents required for participation in the overseas placement programme. The third complainant also transferred $10,000 to the same account.

After the promised opportunities failed to materialise, the first complainant reportedly informed her friends that she believed the operation was a scam. All three complainants reported the matter to the Area One Fraud Squad, leading to Christie being charged.

Only two of the complainants were present in court on Wednesday.

During the proceedings, Christie told the court that he has been in custody at the Brown’s Town Police Station since July of last year.

The investigating officer explained that when Christie was taken into custody on unrelated matters, his debit card and other personal documents were handed over to his brother who they believed to be the main suspect. According to the officer, a police witness statement confirms the items were released to the brother at Christie’s request. He added that the matters for which Christie was originally detained are not fraud related.

The clerk informed the court that investigators allege Christie and his brother were working together, with Christie providing his banking information to his brother, which was then shared with individuals seeking access to the overseas programme.

Judge Fairclough-Hylton questioned whether Christie had control of his bank account while in custody. The clerk responded that he did not. The judge then queried why Christie had been charged instead of his brother. In response, the investigating officer said efforts had been made to locate the brother but those attempts had so far been unsuccessful.

The judge subsequently instructed the clerk to review the case file and set the matter for case management on June 24. Christie was remanded in custody.

In a statement from the dock, Christie maintained his innocence.

“Your Honour, mi mek sure mi share the information with the police. Since mi come inna custody, mi never allow mi documents dem fi stay a di station because mi never want to lose dem. So, whatever my brother is out there doing with dem, I don’t know. When di police came to mi and say he was going to charge mi, I was very frightened. So, mi just explain everything to him and tell him seh from di day dem hold on to mi, di 13th of July, my brother came and pick up mi documents dem. Mi nuh know what him out deh a do with dem,” he said.

He further told the court: “Your honour, mi have five pikney weh mi a live for and mi naah pay fi what mi no eat and drink and mi naah spend no time fi anybody. So, mi nuh hide nuh information from di police. Even now, mi deh yah, mi feel like mi a go drop dung because mi sick,” Christie said before he was removed from the prisoner’s dock.

The judge then asked whether Christie had any bail offer in St Ann. The investigating officer replied that he had no bail offer and remained remanded on those charges until October 10.

Christie was subsequently escorted from the courtroom to the holding area.