KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Mar 15, CMC – A 22-year-old St. Lucian national was on Wednesday remanded into custody after he appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court charged with nine counts of theft as police continue their investigation into an automatic teller machine (ATM) scam in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Jammy Harry is accused of stealing EC$15,500 between March 10 and 12, this year and the prosecution said the crimes were committed in Kingstown, the southeastern town of Calliaqua, and Barrouallie, a fishing town on the west coast, as well as the northern Grenadine island of Bequia.
The prosecution objected to bail when Harry appeared before Magistrate Bertie Pompey citing his nationality and that the charges against the accused are serious. The prosecution said that Harry could also assist the police in their investigations.
Magistrate Pompey agreed with the prosecution and remanded the defendant into custody. He also transferred the matter to the Serious Offences Court for the commencement of a preliminary inquiry on April 20.
Two other St. Lucians, AaranKadoo, 30, and Mario Chitolie, 25, also appeared in court on Wednesday on immigration charges. They were remanded into custody as the prosecution said they are persons of interest in another investigation.
Earlier this week, the Bank of St. Vincent & the Grenadines Ltd. (BOSVG) said it was aware of recent reports regarding fraudulent activities at automated teller machines (ATMs) and that they may have affected some of its customers.
The bank said it would continue to work closely with relevant authorities and financial sector stakeholders to ensure that” our customers are adequately protected”.