Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn is urging members of the public to exercise good sense in their discourse on the multibillion-dollar fraud at investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) and the impending trial of Jean-Ann Panton, arguing that it may undermine the pursuit of justice in the matter.
The lone defendant in the matter, Panton, former SSL client relationship manager, who has been in custody since February 2023, is facing a 22-count indictment charging her with forgery, larceny as a servant, and engaging in a transaction involving criminal property.
She is set to return to the Home Circuit Court on March 20 for the continuation of a case-management hearing, where the trial mode is to be determined as well as a trial date. The prosecution is ready to proceed to trial
Public discussion on the case has heightened following sprint legend Usain Bolt’s interview on popular local podcast The Fix. Bolt expressed his belief that the Government is not doing enough to recover the money and hinted that he may now have to apply “pressure”.
“It’s been two years, and me can’t come to you and say it reach here or we a look up or down. It no reach nowhere. It almost at a stalemate. Something has to happen. Some fixing has to go on,” said Bolt. He has since also discussed the matter on The Cut, a barbershop reasoning/conversation hosted by Wayne ‘Marshall’ Mitchell on YouTube anx television station CVM.
In March last year – almost 14 months after the alleged $4-billion fraud was first uncovered at SSL – Jamaican authorities “validated” a claim that a company owned by Bolt was allegedly defrauded of US$6.2 million (approximately J$950 million). Authorities disclosed that Bolt was among 200 SSL clients impacted by the alleged fraud.
Political representatives from the country’s two main political parties have also joined in the discourse, with both sides engaging in a public spat over whose responsibility it was to protect the investors.
The DPP is, however, expressing concern that the ongoing discussion could harm the fairness of the trial.
“In light of the fact that the case against Ms Panton has not yet been completed and is under active consideration by the court, I and my assigned senior prosecutors in the case humbly request that members of the public be judicious with their public discourse in this matter otherwise it may compromise the prosecution of the matter and also ongoing investigations into other aspects of the SSL matter,” Lewellyn said.
While adding that Panton’s lawyer, John Clarke, had also raised concerns about the pre-trial publicity, she said, “It is a critical principle within our jurisprudence that justice must not only be done but be manifestly appear to be done.”
Drawing on the experiences from other cases, the island’s chief prosecutor advised that the court would not hesitate to make certain orders either at the command of the prosecution or defence or their motion to safeguard the integrity and fairness of the process given perceived excessive pre-trial publicity.
At the same time, the DPP said while her office respects the constitutional right of every citizen to freely express themselves, whether privately or publicly, it is important to remember that an accused person – who is innocent until proven guilty – has the right to fair treatment and due process.
Llewellyn also highlighted that the SSL matter is highly complex, involving voluminous material and that investigations into other aspects of the case are still ongoing.