JP on fraud charge remanded

A justice of the peace who is at the centre of two fraud matters totalling in excess of $30 million was remanded in custody following her first court appearance on Thursday.

Georgia Messam-Whyte is charged with eight counts of fraudulent conversion, six counts of engaging in a transaction that involves criminal property, and six counts of unlawfully making available device or data available for the commission of an offence. She is represented by attorney-at-law Stephen Powell, who informed Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque that his client is not guilty on all charges.

In the first matter, it was alleged that between April 2018 and April 2019, the accused received $27 million from the complainant, which should have been paid over to an attorney for the purchase of a property in St Catherine. However, Messam-Whyte allegedly issued a letter on the letterhead of the attorney with carriage of the sales agreement, to give the said attorney undertaking for the property. As a result, the attorney transferred the property to the complainant, but the monies received by Messam-Whyte were not handed over.

In the second matter, Messam-Whyte received $10 million, sometime in February and September 2020, from the complainant for the purchase of a property. However, upon receipt of the funds, it is alleged that Messam-Whyte ceased communication with the complainant. As the allegations were read in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, Messam-Whyte shook her head repeatedly.

The prosecution indicated to the senior judge that they are opposed to bail as it proved challenging for the police to locate the accused. The court heard that on one occasion, the police sought the assistance of the custos of St Andrew to locate Messam-Whyte.

"She was found in a restaurant Your Honour," the prosecutor revealed. A bail application was not heard as Powell requested an adjournment until March 2 to make his submissions.

Messam-Whyte was made the subject of a fingerprint order and was remanded in custody until then.