SSL matter won’t be rushed, says Llewellyn

AMID ACCUSATIONS that there might be a deliberate cover-up in the Stocks & Securities Limited (SSL) multibillion-dollar fraud investigation, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn is assuring the public that the investigation is incomplete and her office will not be rushed in making a ruling in the matter.

While disclosing that the case file is incomplete, she indicated that there are outstanding documents which are beneficial that have not yet been obtained from the Financial Investigations Division (FID).

At the same time, the DPP said that her office reserves the right to independently make its assessments promptly depending on the circumstances and the availability of the evidentiary materials.

In his Budget presentation on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Mark Golding complained about the seemingly slow pace of the investigation while asserting that the country will not accept a cover-up of this “shameful debacle”.

“Jamaica’s iconic global track superstar, the Hon Usain Bolt, and many other innocent investors were carried down in the scandalous SSL fiasco, and we can’t hear anything about charges being brought against the responsible culprits,” Golding said, while also complaining about the non-release of the findings of the Kroll forensic audit which has cost taxpayers.

One person charged

Since the island’s largest fraud was uncovered in January 2023, only one person, Jean-Ann Panton, a former client relationship manager, has been charged.

However, in the wake of the Golding’s utterances, Llewellyn, in a press release yesterday, sought to explain what has been happening in terms of the process which is required by her office in arriving at a ruling.

According to her, the first set of documents in the case were submitted to her office in November 2023.

Since then, Llewellyn said that the office and the FID have had meetings to discuss the file and provide guidance to the investigators concerning the outstanding material.

She disclosed that the case file is comprised of over 3,000 pages of documentary material.

Further to that, she explained that each time additional material is submitted, a four-member ODPP (Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions) team has had to review the file in its entirety, making assessments about what material is outstanding, which offences may arise and whether the office will be able to mount a viable prosecution based on the material.

“The ODPP prides itself on providing proper/accurate advice and prosecution outcomes resulting from appropriate assessments of the circumstances and the law in all matters. It is never advisable to prepare a ruling, especially in matters of this nature, based on an incomplete file,” the DPP added.

Furthermore, she said, “It is imperative that we have sufficient material which meets the evidentiary threshold as a matter of law to prove all the elements of each offence while establishing a nexus between the offences and the offender beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Despite the high public interest that the case has attracted, the DPP said her office, for obvious reasons, is not at liberty to publish any further details of the discussions with the investigators.

“All evidentiary material, reports in the investigation should be kept confidential as between the prosecutors and investigators lest it undermines the prosecution’s ability to move forward successfully,” she stated.

Llewellyn added, “Though we understand and share the concerns of all well-thinking members of the public to hold criminal offenders to account in financial crimes, we cannot sacrifice accuracy and quality preparation on the altar of expediency.”

However, she said her office is looking forward to completing the ruling in this matter and communicating its advice to FID who would subsequently communicate these findings to the public at an appropriate time of their choosing given the sensitivity of these investigations and the possible consequences of our advice.

In August last year, the FID told the country that other people would be charged in the case in the coming months.

The SSL fraud has ballooned past US$30 million or approximately J$4.7 billion, with more than 200 client accounts impacted.

Sports legend Usain Bolt is among those affected.

In the meantime, the lone accused in the matter, who remains in custody, will return to court on May 27.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com