Party promoter implicated in $222-million INSPORTS fraud
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The article describes a MOCA arrest and criminal charges tied to a $222-million fraud involving INSPORTS and alleged misuse of fraudulent cheques and criminal property. This is directly relevant to corruption and government accountability tracking in Jamaica.
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KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) on Wednesday arrested and charged three men in connection with a $222-million fraud racket committed at the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) between 2011 and 2017.
Arrested and charged are popular “Chug IT” and “French Connection” party promoter Andrew Wright and co-conspirators Rudolph Barnes and Oneil Hope.
Allegations are that the three men 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 reportedly 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, use and possession of criminal property, engaging in transactions involving criminal property and larceny as a servant.
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