Bail granted to alleged Seprod fraud mastermind

One of the alleged masterminds behind the $160 million fraud at Seprod Group of Companies has been granted bail in the sum of $500,000.

On Monday, Parish Court Judge Leighton Morris granted Jason Grant bail in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on condition that he surrenders his travel documents with a stop order in place. He should also report daily at the Caymanas Police Station.

The information technology specialist is charged along with 24 other accused, all of whom have been granted station bail in the amount of $400,000.

Before the application, attorney-at-law C.J. Mitchell had complained that his client was denied station bail because he refused to hand over his phone to the investigator.

The lawyer claimed he was told directly by the investigator that his client would not be given bail as a form of punishment.

The prosecution, however, countered that there were concerns that he would abscond and interfere with the witnesses.

In the meantime, the prosecutor in outlining the allegation said that Grant, who was employed by the company as a senior systems administrator between October 1, 2021, and May 5, 2022, was responsible for issuing passcodes and approvals to the warehouses to facilitate the transfer of goods.

CONSPIRACY

During his tenure, Grant reportedly conspired with several truck drivers and assistants to siphon goods from the trucks and convert them for their own use and benefit.

It is further alleged that the drivers and their assistants created fictitious transfer lists to send the goods to a virtual holding area, but instead stole the goods on several occasions.

The court also heard that approximately $83 million worth of goods were unaccounted for and that Grant is alleged to have issued 234 of the 394 codes that were approved for the fraudulent transfer of goods.

Following the discovery of the fraud, Grant resigned after reportedly frustrating several attempts to appear before an internal hearing.

Grant is also alleged to have convened a meeting in which he reportedly instructed them not to cooperate with the police while the matter was under investigation.

The accused reportedly thwarted three attempts by the police to apprehend him but was arrested on the fourth attempt on April 13.