Man with long rap sheet gets soft bail

Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell was left shell-shocked on Wednesday, following the revelation that a man who allegedly swindled more than $12 million from several corporate entities is out on bail with no conditions attached.

Albert Watkins, 55, is said to have an extensive rap sheet. On Wednesday, the prosecution said that he has several previous convictions. He is currently before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on an indictment with seven counts of obtaining credit by fraud, obtaining goods by means of forged documents and conspiracy to defraud. The indictment also contains 14 counts of forgery. Burrell was not impressed when prosecutors indicated that Watkins was on $200,000 bail with no conditions attached, and had other matters before the parish court.

"Who gave this man $200,000 bail? How does that even make sense?" she quizzed.

"So he had a love matter and you [the investigator] gave him $200,000 bail? This is negligent, more than what is before the court for," Burrell argued. She then imposed conditions that required Watkins to report to the police three times weekly and surrender his travel documents. A stop order was imposed at the island's ports.

Allegations state that Watkins purported himself to be a businessman and visited various entities with the intention to credit goods. He is represented by attorney-at-law Oswest Senior-Smith.