Bail offered to former HEART/NSTA Trust employees in multimillion-dollar fraud probe

Two former employees of HEART/NSTA Trust who are charged in connection with a $17 million fraud probe at the agency were offered bail when they appeared in the St James Parish Court for the first time today.

Simoes Ellis, from Portmore, St Catherine, is charged with larceny as a servant, possession of criminal property and conspiracy.

His co-defendant, Kevina Atkins, of Flanker, St James, is charged with receiving stolen property, possession of criminal property and conspiracy to defraud.

During this morning's bail hearing, the duo's lawyer Henry McCurdy told presiding judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton that Atkins has an infant who is currently sick and whose condition has worsened since Atkins was taken into custody.

The lawyer also noted that Ellis has no previous convictions.

Fairclough-Hylton subsequently offered bail to Ellis in the sum of $1 million with three sureties, and ordered him to report to the police three times weekly.

Meanwhile, Atkins was offered bail in the sum of $600,000 with three sureties and was also ordered to report three times weekly.

Stop orders were also issued for both defendants.

The case is set for continuation on February 12, at which time it is expected that several outstanding documents, including the arresting officer's statement and two witness statements, will be added to the case-file.

Ellis and Atkins were arrested during targeted raids in Portmore, St Catherine and Montego Bay, St James on November 29, conducted by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) in relation to the HEART/NSTA Trust probe.

They are charged in relation to more than $4 million, out of the $17 million now under investigation.

We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on X @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar