Bolt’s distress
Jamaican athletics icon ‘shocked and disappointed’ at lack of updates on SSL fraud, failure to return stolen US$12.7m
Published:Thursday | October 3, 2024 | 12:12 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt is “shocked and disappointed” over the lack of transparency surrounding the investigation into billions of dollars defrauded from his and more than 30 other clients’ accounts at Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) more than a year ago.
The world record holder in the 100m and 200m sprints is also “frustrated” that, despite the announcement of a criminal investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States and other international partners, there has been no update about his stolen US$12.7 million.
Linton Gordon, Bolt’s attorney, told The Gleaner yesterday that the retired track legend is yearning to know who is responsible for his missing funds at the scandal-scarred investment firm.
“[Dr Nigel] Clarke announced that investigators were coming from Canada, England from Timbuktu and from the United States. We haven’t had one iota of information regarding the outcome of those investigations. So, we don’t know who took the money; who we can turn to, because everything is now under cover,” Gordon said.
Clarke, who will leave his post as minister of finance and the public service later this month for a senior position at the International Monetary Fund, could not be reached for comment on the matter, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
In January 2023, Clarke told the nation that investigators, led by the Financial Investigations Division, were “resolute and determined” to unravel the complexity of the fraud and bring the wrongdoers to justice.
At that time, he admitted that the SSL scandal, which had quickly gathered momentum, risked tarnishing Jamaica’s reputation globally.
A series of cryptic posts to Bolt’s social media pages since Monday have left fans and users speculating about whether they had to do with his missing funds and a possible conspiracy.
“They banking on the country youth love for his country but ask yourself, do they love their country or themselves,” the multiple world champion said in one post.
‘Fake news’
In two other posts he wrote about “fake news” and that “time is longer than rope”. The latter phrase is, a Jamaican adage which means to be patient while waiting for your moment.
“He’s very frustrated and disappointed. He’s simply shocked and disappointed to know a country he has put on the map and he put his money in an institution here, that he has lost it or he can’t get it back,” Gordon said.
Bolt’s holding company, Welljen, filed a lawsuit against SSL and Jean-Ann Panton, a former client relationship manager at SSL, to recover damages of US$6.2 million, the original sum he invested, or alternatively US$12.7 million.
Welljen’s account was opened at SSL in 2012. The sprint legend said the funds were for his retirement.
Gordon told The Gleaner that a stay on all action pending an investigation and report from SSL trustee Caydion Campbell was ordered by the court. The court further said that there should be no other order pending the report.
Gordon said he is expecting an update later this month when the matter returns to court to see how the team can proceed.
“What we want to know is, who took the money …?” he said.
The multimillion-dollar fraud and irregularities which was uncovered at the investment company in January 2023 ballooned past US$30 million, or J$4.7 billion, with more than 200 accounts impacted.
Panton is the only person charged in the matter so far. She is facing a 21-count indictment after being charged with forgery, larceny as a servant, and engaging in a transaction involving criminal property.
In March, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions clarified that it has not made a ruling on whether further charges should be laid in the fraud case, because it is still awaiting outstanding documents from the FID.
Last week, SSL indicated that it is advanced in its plans to pay its clients. The payout is primarily from the proceeds of the International Securities Client Portfolio sale, with an approximate value in excess of US$30 million, or J$4.7 billion.