MILLION DOLLAR SCANDAL — FOUR CHARGED WITH FRAUD

Four men yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls charged with 15 counts of fraud.

Investigations into a million dollar corruption scandal led to the arrest of UK based attorney and businessman Farouk Warris, Customs Clerk Courtney Griffith, jeweler Aman Harripersad and Chaguanas businessman Rajendra Kannick. It is alleged that between the years 1998 and 2001 the four, among others, were involved in the forgery of numerous documents including managers cheques and the illegal receipt of funds.

Defence attorney for Warris, Gillian Lucky SC, made a lengthy application for bail which was denied by Mc Nicolls, who said that the case was out of his jurisdiction. The Magistrate then transferred the matters to the Couva Magistrates’ Court, where the men will reappear on Friday morning. Harripersad is represented by Rajiv Persad, Kannick by Chataram Sinanan and Griffith is not represented by an attorney. Complainant in the matter Cpl Williams of the Anti-Corruption Squad informed Newsday that the case involves over a million dollars in fraud and investigations are continuing with further arrests being imminent.