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Maxwell's fraud trial postponed a fourth time
THE FRAUD trial of former national football coach Geoffrey Maxwell, failed to begin as scheduled Monday after the court was told that his lawyer Ian Wilkinson, had emigrated. When the case came up for trial in the Corporate Area RM Court (Half-Way Tree), Maxwell's new attorney Gayle Nelson told Resident Magistrate Jennifer Straw, that Wilkinson had moved to "greener pastures" in Belize, so he would be taking over the matter. Mr. Nelson said however, he had not been served with the necessary papers and statements by Wilkinson, so he was not ready for a trial. As a result, a fifth trial date of December 4, 5, 7 and 8 was set for the matter. Maxwell is charged with 12 counts of fraudulent conversion. The 51-year-old former national coach is alleged to have defrauded H.D. Hopwood of $22 million that was to have been used to buy foreign exchange, the prosecution alleges. Attorneys-at-law Walter Scott, Deborah Martin and Sharon Usim, who are prosecuting in the matter on a fiat received from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) were clearly upset over the postponement. In a submission to the RM, Scott said it was the fourth time a trial date has been set and postponed. He said the parties involved were getting frustrated at the matter, and asked that the RM ensure it begins or ends at the next trial date. "We need to be assured that the next time the matter will proceed or we be given something to ensure that it will be brought to an end," Scott told the RM, who extended Maxwell's $10-million bail. According to the allegations, H.D. Hopwood gave Maxwell the responsibility to buy foreign exchange on its behalf. It is alleged that between September 1997 and 1999, 12 cheques totalling $22,291,500 were drawn to buy US$600,000. The foreign exchange was bought but was not handed over to H.D. Hopwood, the prosecution contends. Following an internal audit, the matter was reported to the Fraud Squad and Maxwell was charged by Det. Inspector Fitz Bailey.
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