Moulton White facing fraud charges

Alysia Moulton White, outgoing vice-president of group marketing at Sagicor Group Jamaica, has been slapped with several fraud-related charges, reportedly over $661,000, which was sent to one of her bank accounts, as a probe into operations at the Liguanea branch of the bank deepens.

She was charged with conspiracy to defraud, unlawfully making available data or device for the commission of an offence, engaging in a transaction that involved a criminal offence, and receiving stolen property.

Moulton-White, who was released on $1 million station bail following a question and answer session with detectives from the Fraud Squad, is to appear in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on February 21 next year.

Bert Samuels, one of the lawyers representing Moulton White, yesterday sought to distance the charges from a reported $65-million fraud at the financial institution.

“These charges relate to $661,000. She is not being implicated in anything to do with the $65 million,” Samuels insisted.

However, a senior officer close to the investigation said the charges are related to the ongoing fraud probe at the bank.

Two employees from Sagicor Bank's Liguanea branch, including Moulton White's sister, Tricia Moulton, who was the bank manager, were charged in October. Personal banker Malika McLeod was also charged.

Moulton, 40, has been charged with conspiracy to defraud, access with intent to commit or facilitate an offence, unlawfully making available device or data for the commission of an offence, and computer-related fraud.

McLeod, 42, is charged with conspiracy to defraud, access with intent to commit or facilitate an offence, unlawfully making available device or data for the commission of an offence, computer-related fraud, breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act, and larceny as a servant.

The police are alleging that between August and October of this year, Moulton and McLeod conspired and defrauded the US foreign currency accounts of about six customers at the bank.

They made their first appearance in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on December 9, and their station bail at $1 million each was extended. They are to return to court on February 21 of next year.

Sagicor said that the alleged breaches were uncovered through its internal security systems.

The bank, in a statement, said the investigation was handed over to the Jamaica Constabulary Force on October 21 and that Moulton and McLeod were suspended to facilitate the probe.

In the meantime, Samuels is maintaining Moulton White's innocence.

“We wish to place on record based on all we have seen and what the police have said to us, she is totally innocent of all charges that have been proffered,” the attorney said.

“We are troubled that her reputation has been deeply injured by the proffering of these charges and we are anxious to get discovery to get the material on which these charges are based,” he added.

Sagicor Group recently announced that it was parting company with Moulton White in a “restructuring” exercise to streamline its operations to achieve greater efficiencies. The company said that her post would become redundant on December 31.

Queries to Sagicor on Moulton White's status in the organisation were not answered up to press time Wednesday.

Attorney-at-law Matthew Hyatt is also representing Moulton-White.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com