Popular defence attorney Attoinette Haughton-Cardenas was arrested yesterday, and now faces a charge of fraudulent conversion. The charge was laid after she failed to answer questions that were posed by Police Fraud Squad investigators with regard to allegations that she failed to turn over monies to a former client of hers.
It is alleged that she had collected in excess of J$6M on behalf of her client, as a result of a medical negligence lawsuit that he had filed against the May Pen Hospital. It is said that Haughton-Cardenas failed to turn over his portion of the award, which was made all the way back in October 2006.
She turned herself in to the police after investigators contacted her about the allegations. She was later offered station bail in the sum of J$500K, and is booked to appear in the criminal division of the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s court on July 16.
July 2, 1946 - Jamaican Herb McKenley, running for the University of Illinois in a special Amateur Athletic Union track meet, sets a new world record for the 300-yard run, clocking 29 and eight-tenths seconds to beat the old record of 30 and two-tenths seconds which had been set in April 1921 by Charles Paddock.
July 2, 1968 - The youth organization of the People’s National Party (PNP) is founded by Senator P.J. Patterson, a vice-president of the party and also its Shadow minister of youth, sports and community development. The objective of the PNP youth arm is to heighten the political and social awareness of the youth of Jamaica.
There are now 32 confirmed cases of the Influenza A (H1N1 / Swine Flu) virus in Jamaica. The latest confirmations came yesterday, with three new cases in Westmoreland, one in St. James and one in St. Elizabeth. The Ministry of Health has noted that these latest cases are still being investigated and that any additional information will be communicated as soon as it is received.
The Ministry of Health has not - at this time - placed any restriction on public gatherings, but members of the public will be notified if the situation changes, as the confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) are expected to increase.
Persons are being urged to observe precautionary measures to protect themselves and others from any influenza infection. These include washing hands frequently with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Persons should also cover the nose and mouth (preferably with tissue) when sneezing and coughing, and the tissue should be disposed of properly.
For more information on the Swine Flu virus, members of the public may call the Ministry’s toll free line at 1-888-663-5683 (7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Over the past few days, Joseph P. Connolly - the officially appointed liquidator of Olint TCI Corporation Ltd. - has been running ads (see image below) in the Jamaican press, inviting claimants of Olint TCI to forward their claim along with certain information about their account to his attention via email, post or fax.
Notably however, the notice indicates that this relates specifically to Olint TCI which was incorporated in the Turks & Caicos islands in April 2006, and does not include Olint Corporation Ltd., Overseas Locket International or any other entity incorporated in Jamaica or elsewhere that may be linked to David Smith and Tracy Smith, the shareholders of Olint TCI.
Thus, many Jamaicans (who invested heavily in Olint) are now left wondering if they’ve been left in the cold with regard to recovering all or part of money they may have invested in David Smith entities that are not being covered by the current compulsory liquidation of Olint TCI. The official liquidator has identified monetary assets in the U.S. and Turks & Caicos totalling a just US$13 million, a mere drop in the bucket according to some sources, and specifically earmarked only for those who invested via Olint TCI.
Thieves reportedly raided and looted the VIP boxes at the Northern Stand of Sabina Park, snatching at least five expensive plasma television sets. The VIP boxes that were raided reportedly include that of the Prime Minister. It is not known exactly what time the theft occurred, but it was some time after the 1st one-day international cricket match between the West Indies and India which ended on Friday (June 26) evening.
A British national - Angela Robinson - who tried to leave the island with five pounds of ganja hidden in a jar of cocoa butter lotion and 3 packs of wheat crackers, was sentenced to 9 months in prison when she appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
In addition to the sentence, she was also fined J$8,000 or 30 days for possession of ganja and J$24,000 or six months for attempting to export the drug, after she pleaded guilty to the charges. She also pleaded guilty to dealing in ganja, for which she was admonished and discharged and entered a not guilty plea on a charge of conspiracy to export ganja, that was withdrawn.
Christopher Campbell, who was facing similar charges for allegedly conspiring with her, was freed and the charges against him dropped. Both were held at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on Monday (June 22), when they were seen carrying a suitcase in which the ganja was found.
When cautioned by the police, Campbell reportedly said that a man known as TC had given him the lotion to give Robinson, but indicated that he was unaware that it contained ganja. Further to that, Robinson while pointing out that the suitcase was hers, told the police that Campbell did not know anything about the drug.
Over J$60-million worth of compressed ganja was seized following the search of a vessel by the Marine police at the Kingston Harbour last night. No one was arrested in connection with the seizure.
According to police reports, at approximately 11 p.m. last night, a routine check and search was conducted on the “M-V CFS Pacora”, a ship from Haiti that was docked at Gordon Cay. Two metal containers were found attached to the vessel. They were removed and taken to the Marine Headquarters, cut open, and approximately 200lbs of compressed ganja was removed from the containers. The ganja had an estimated street value of over US$700K (J$63-million).
The vessel was scheduled to leave the island but has been detained to facilitate a probe that has been launched by detectives from the Marine Division.
An 11 year old student of the Holy Rosary Primary School in Kingston, who in April of this year allegedly fired a gun on the school compound, is again being investigated by police, this time in relation to the stabbing of another student at the school last Wednesday (June 17).
According to the police, the boy was involved in an altercation with another 11 year old, and used a broken bottle to stab him in the chest. The injured student was rushed to hospital where he was listed in stable condition, while the accused boy has been removed from the school and taken to a place of safety.
With regard to the investigation of the April shooting incident, the police indicate that it led nowhere, as the gun (which was allegedly hidden), was never found. They are however questioning the rationale of him being allowed back into the school system, but the hands of school officials may have been tied, as unless the child was convicted of a crime, it would be difficult to deprive him of an education.
The Ministry of Health’s surveillance team has detected an additional four cases of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus (more popularly known as the swine flu virus) here in Jamaica, bringing the total to 19.
In keeping with its rapid response strategy, the Ministry has interviewed, examined and taken samples from all household contacts and other persons with whom the infected individuals may have come in contact. Investigations of all four cases are still ongoing.
The affected parishes are Kingston & St. Andrew and St. Catherine, with four cases each; St. Mary with three cases; Trelawny with two cases; St. James with three; Westmoreland with one case; Manchester with two cases.
In one school in Manchester, approximately 13% of students reported having flu-like illness and one case was confirmed. The Ministry of Health is asking that persons with flu-like symptoms contact their doctor, health center or hospital.
For more information about Influenza A (H1N1), members of the public may call the Ministry’s toll free line - 1-888-663-5683 - seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
While champion sprinter Usain Bolt was preparing for his 9.77 100M run at a track meet in the Czech Republic, thieves reportedly broke into his house on Lady Musgrave Avenue in Kingston yesterday morning (June 17), and stole electronics (digital cameras, cellphones and a laptop) worth over J$100,000. The incident reportedly happened sometime between 12 a.m. and 4.am.
The police have since examined the premises, and investigations into the theft are said to be well under way.
