BY TASHIEKA MAIR, STAR Writer
WESTERN BUREAU
A MAN ACCUSED of withdrawing $105,000 from at least two National Commercial Bank (NCB) customers' accounts, was granted bail in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Sergio Dalrimple, 25, from Mount Salem, pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of simple larceny and one count of conspiracy and was offered $200,000 bail with one or two sureties. He must report to the Mt. Salem Police Station three times weekly.
On October 5, this year, (NCB) received reports that several customers' accounts were being tampered with, without the customers' knowledge. A special investigating team from the bank started to monitor the activities carried out at the machines.
It was discovered that unknown persons were using cloned debit cards to withdraw money from different NCB customers' accounts.
The Investigators turned their attention to an account belonging to a female known to the accused. It was discovered that her debit card was used to remove money from other accounts across the island. As a result, surveillance was set up on November 12, to monitor transactions done at the bank's ATM machines. Acting on information a member of the investigating team went to the ATM at the Fairview Shopping Centre at Bogue and observed the accused conducting a transaction. Based on what was observed, Dalrimple was held as soon as he emerged from the ATM area.
When questioned about the card, he gave four different explanations as to how he got it. At the time he was held, he had used the card to withdraw $5000 from an account in Portmore.
When the bank questioned the owner of the card, she said she had in fact given the card and its PIN number to Dalrimple and mentioned that she was requested and demanded by Dalrimple to change the number at least three times.
The other nine counts of larceny however are related to only one account from which some $105,000 was withdrawn.
Dalrimple will have to surrender his travel documents and there is a stop order imposed on him. He is expected to return to court on January 17.
RM Winsome Henry had denied Dalrimple bail on his first court appearance saying that despite the fact that these are mere allegations, she did not feel that she was in a position to do so as investigations are still ongoing.
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