Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

A St James man who was arrested in connection with a series of unauthorised withdrawals from two Bank of Nova Scotia accounts was remanded when he appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Dario McFarlane, a 22-year-old computer technician of Paradise/ Norwood in St James, is now facing two counts of conspiracy to defraud, and one count of impersonation.

Court records show that the accused man has been before the courts for unlawful possession of money and conspiracy in relation to a credit card.

The investigations continue in the matter and this, according to the investigating officer, would include ascertaining McFarlane's true identity.

Allegations in the new case are that a customer of the Bank of Nova Scotia discovered that prior to March 25, several unauthorised transactions, totalling just under $1 million, were made on her account. As a result, she hired a private detective to investigate the matter.

Further allegations are that on March 22, the private detective received information that certain transactions were being carried out. He, along with police personnel, went to the Ventura Photo Studio in Montego Bay, where they saw the accused in the process of using a debit card, under his name, to purchase items.

The private detective allegedly took the debit card and receipt from McFarlane, and discovered that the number on both documents differed. Further investigations revealed that transactions were made from the account being investigated via a debit card; however, the account holder was not issued an ATM card.

The investigator also took from the accused what appeared to be a California driver's licence which turned out to be an ATM card in the name of a BNS account holder, some US$6,000 was taken from that account.

Defence attorney Morrel Beckford,in his bail application, said what the prosecution has presented to the court was "reasonable suspicion, not evidence".

The lawyer argued that the only nexus between the charge and McFarlene is that he was seen attempting to make purchases amounting to J$3,000 at Ventura. This, he says, cannot prove that his client is responsible for carrying out the alleged unauthorised transactions.

However, Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry said she would prefer to wait for the investigations to be completed before making any decisions about bail. McFarlane is scheduled to return to court on April 17.