GUILTY

Former INSPORTS financial controller and party promoter Andrew Wright, along with two co-defendants, was found guilty of multiple fraud-related charges yesterday in the Home Circuit Court, stemming from a $222-million scheme uncovered at the state-run agency.

The verdicts were handed down by Justice Ann-Marie Lawrence-Grainger following a nearly year-long trial.

Wright, known for staging events such as Chug It and French Connection, was convicted on 10 counts of conspiracy to defraud along with one count each of engaging in a criminal transaction, corruption, and facilitating the retention of criminal property.

Two of Wright’s co-accused, Rudolph Barnes and Oneil Hope, were also convicted. Barnes was found guilty of 10 counts of conspiracy to defraud and one count of corruption, while Hope was convicted on six conspiracy charges and one count of acquiring criminal property.

All three men have been remanded and are scheduled for sentencing on November 21.

The case centred on allegations that the trio, as part of a wider network of current and former INSPORTS employees, orchestrated the creation and encashment of fraudulent cheques made out to individuals who were neither employed by nor contracted to the agency.

The scheme came to light following a 2017 internal audit, which led to a referral to the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA). The agency launched a lengthy investigation, ultimately resulting in the arrests and charges. Wright was taken into custody in April 2023 while appearing before the Industrial Disputes Tribunal in an unrelated wrongful dismissal case.

Three female co-defendants – Andrea Picton, Sherene Farquharson, and Jonnique Mills – were acquitted in recent days. Picton and Farquharson were both former accounting clerks at INSPORTS, while Mills had also faced multiple charges. All were cleared of conspiracy and corruption charges.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alexia McDonald and Crown Counsel Dwayne Houston.

McDonald, who led the prosecution, described the case as “long and gruelling” but one that was made possible through strong collaboration.

“This matter has been ongoing for about a year, and it really has been a gruelling process, but it was really possible because there were willing witnesses, civilian witnesses especially. The investigating teams and the financial institutions were very helpful. We really had good support,” she said.

McDonald also credited various government agencies for their cooperation, including Tax Administration Jamaica, the Passport, Immigration, and Citizenship Agency (PICA), and the motor vehicle registries, which she said were crucial and assisted the Crown in presenting its case.

She also highlighted the importance of international cooperation, crediting overseas partners for helping secure key witness testimony.

McDonald was measured in her response to the acquittals: “As prosecutors, we do not approach matters with personal expectations. Our role is to present the best possible case, and it is for the court to determine what justice looks like. We respect the verdicts delivered.”

Attorneys for Wright and Hope have indicated plans to appeal. Seymour Stewart, representing Hope, said the verdict was unjust.

“No, we do not agree with the verdicts. Everything that my client, Mr Hope, did was duly and properly authorised from on high. We don’t believe he should have even been charged,” Stewart stated.

“And we have already started the process to file our appeal,” he said.

Meanwhile, Alessandra LaBeach, one of the attorneys for Wright, was more reserved in her comments.

“Appeal, naturally. We have already identified several grounds and are eager to have this portion of the matter completed so we can get it before the Court of Appeal,” she said.

Efforts to contact Steven Jackson, who is representing Barnes, were unsuccessful.

Other members of the legal team included Isat Buchanan, also representing Wright; Xavier Leveridge for Picton; and Kimani Brydson for Farquharson.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com