Saturday, February 21, 2015

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015 NEWS THE STAR
A former employee of the
Jamaica Public Service (JPS)
was granted bail in the sum
of $2,000,000 when he appeared in
the Corporate Area Resident
Magistrate’s court yesterday on
charges relating to fraud.
Charged with unauthorised modifi-
cation of computer data, access with
intent to commit an offence, con-
spiracy to defraud, unauthorised
interception of computer functions,
and unauthorised access to computer
data is Donovan Carson.
He did not enter a plea when the
matter was called up.
The court heard that Carson was
entrusted to oversee JPS’s new
initiative, the Advance Metering
Infrastructure System.
Based on his user role, he could
add, remove or change the system
via a desktop computer with a
specific IP address that was
assigned to him.
The court heard that alleged
wrongdoing by Carson caused the
power company to lose in excess of
$9.8 million.
Resident Magistrate Maxine Ellis
told Carson not to communicate with
any JPS employees or anyone associ-
ated with that company.
He was subsequently granted bail
with conditions.
Carson is to report to the Spanish
Town Police every Monday, Wednesday
and Friday.
He is to surrender all travel
documents, and a stop order was
put in place.
A taxi operator was further remanded yesterday in the
Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court for attempt-
ing to smuggle over 2,000 pounds of ganja on to
Kingston Container Terminal.
Charged with possession of, dealing, taking steps to export,
conspiracy to export, trafficking ganja and fraudulent use of a
license plate is 28-year-old Jermaine Brown of an
Oxford Street, Kingston address.
Brown did not enter a plea.
The court heard that on February
6, Brown, along with two other
occupants aboard a Toyota Hiace
mini bus, attempted to enter the ter-
minal posing as members of the
Contraband Enforcement Team (CET).
Allegations are that while they were
being verified, the driver of the vehicle
sped off.
The vehicle was later found along
7th Avenue, Newport West, about
10:30 p.m.
The court was told that a search of
the vehicle unearthed 2,089 pounds of
compressed ganja, vests marked
Jamaica customs vests, and other contents.
An investigation was launched after Brown, who rented the
vehicle, said he was robbed. Allegations are that the investiga-
tions pointed to the accused as the main perpetrator.
Brown is to return to court on March 9, where it is expected that
his attorney will make a bail application.
A fingerprint order was also made against the accused man.
ANDRÉ WILLIAMS
STAR Writer
T wo Jamaican women are scheduled to face the court in
Barbados after they were held on Valentine’s Day enter-
ing the country with contraband, THE STAR understands.
According to Jamaican national,
28-year-old Natalee Ffrench and Natalee Sasha Crooks, 24,
arrived on the same flight at the Grantley Adams International
Airport on February 14, from Jamaica.
They were interviewed by police and referred to the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
THE STAR gathered that Ffrench passed out two pounds of
cannabis that she was alleged to have ingested, while
Natalee Sasha Crooks is said to have passed out one pound
of cannabis.
Ffrench and Crooks are expected to appear in the District B
Magistrates’ Court.
Cabbie on drug rap
further remanded
Accused drug
mules arrested on
Valentines Day
Former JPS employee on fraud charge gets bail
Uunauthorised persons on Caymanas Park’s com-
pound were surprised with a raid carried out by
the St Catherine South Police on Ash Wednesday,
resulting in a number of arrests under the Dangerous
Drugs Act.
The well-coordinated raid, conducted jointly by the
police and the racetrack’s security detail, McKay Security,
was focused mainly on the southern stable area, including
the popular canteen hang-out spot along None Such
Boulevard, and stretching as far north as the equine pool.
Jason McKay, chief executive officer, McKay Security,
said in addition to ridding the track of unlicensed person-
nel, the surprise raid was an intelligence-driven operation.
“We had information that a gang feud in a nearby
community could find its way into Caymanas Park, and
we sought the assistance of the police to ferret out unau-
thorised persons.
“We are focused on preventing tragedy, not waiting
for it to happen. We heard of the threat and decided to
act quickly because, as everybody knows, the stable area
has produced its fair share of tragedies,” McKay pointed
out.
Ironically, the raid was carried out four days after the
running of the Howard Phillipps Memorial Trophy.
Phillipps, a veteran trainer, was shot and killed at his barn
on February 7, 2004.
McKay said he was aware that many persons con-
verge on Caymanas Park on race mornings, hoping to
get tips, but pointed out that this creates a security risk, as
unlicensed personnel use creative methods to gain access
to the compound.
“I hope this serves as a message to unlicensed persons
coming to the track on race mornings. They may think it’s
a good way to get a good tip, but also a good way to be
arrested,” he said.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Terrence Sancko, of the St
Catherine South Police Division, said no threat to
Caymanas Park can be taken lightly.
“Caymanas Park is the biggest single commercial
entity in Portmore, and we won’t allow any gang activity,
or otherwise, to compromise the racetrack,” he said.