BY MICHAEL MCLEAN, Star Writer
LACOVIA:
THE TRIAL OF Balwin Smith, a man who was practising as an attorney-at-law, from Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, and who is accused of defrauding a number of his clients of almost $10 million, is set to begin in July for three days.
The hearing will begin on July 13 in the Black River Resident Magistrate's Court and will continue on July 18 and 20 in Santa Cruz RM Court.
BAIL EXTENDED
Smith had his $2 million bail extended when he appeared in the Santa Cruz RM Court last Tuesday.
The legal practitioner, who was head of Southern Finance Law and Legal Services, is facing several charges of fraud and money laundering.
The court is alleging that the accused collected more than $9 million from clients, with an agreement to invest the money on their behalf.
It is alleged that Smith collected $1.7 million from a client, more than $4 million from a former employee at his company, and monies from several other clients.
DOCUMENTS CONFISCATED
Several of the complainants reported the matter to the police, and in February 2004, investigators attached to the Financial Investigation Division swooped down on the company and confiscated all the office furniture and accessories, and seized a number of documents that belonged to them.
However, the accused man was not found at the time, but later apprehended, arrested and charged with fraud.
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