Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A teacher from Hopewell, Hanover, accused of spending money he had collected as CXC examination fees for his own purposes, is to return before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on May 1.

Andrew Wilson, 37, who is charged with fraudulent conversion, was offered bail in the sum of $150,000 with two sureties when he appeared in court on Friday.

Allegations are that, over an unspecified period of time, at least five persons attended an evening class institute that Wilson was operating, and paid him approximately $50,000 to sit examinations at the CXC level. However, the individuals were not given their timetables, and as a result, they were unable to sit the exam.

Subsequent checks revealed that the examination council's overseas offices had not received the monies that were collected from the complainants. Following this revelation, Wilson allegedly confessed that he had used the money due to financial challenges he was faced with, and he was later arrested and charged.

successful bail

In court, Wilson's lawyer Natalie Messado made a successful bail application for her client, pointing to his previously clean record.

"Mr Wilson has absolutely no previous convictions ... he is prepared to report to the Barnett Street Police Station, because he works along Barnett Street and it would be easier for him to report there," Messado told Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong-Small.

"Is the file complete?" RM Wong-Small asked clerk of the court Orrett Brown.

"No, Your Honour; I will request a mention date (to complete the file)," answered Brown.

RM Wong-Small ordered Wilson to report at the Barnett Street Police Station every Monday and Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., until his case returns for mention on May 1.