By Claude Mills, Staff Reporter
East Kingston businessman Danhai Williams (right) is being escorted off to court by his attorney-at-law Jacqueline Samuels-Brown shortly after leaving the Fraud Squad office in downtown Kingston, yesterday. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
EAST KINGSTON businessman and contractor Danhai Williams was offered $10 million bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Criminal Court at Half-Way Tree yesterday to answer to charges of defrauding Government's shelter agency, the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC).
His other six co-accused were offered bail at $5 million each. With the exception of Dwight Dawkins and Donovan Hill, all the others had posted bail up to 5:30 p.m. yesterday.
Resident Magistrate Martin Gayle had initially set bail for the seven at $10 million each but following impassioned pleas from their attorneys, he relented, slashing the bail bonds to $5 million, except that of Williams.
The Resident Magistrate however attached certain provisos to the granting of bail, recommending that each accused visit the police station nearest their place of residence three times per week between 6:00 a.m and 8:00 p.m. They have also been ordered to give up their travel documents.
However, Williams is able to keep his travel documents after his lawyer, Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, argued that her client was not a flight risk. She said that given the nature of his business, he might be required to travel overseas as well as visit his ailing mother who had migrated for health reasons.
RM Gayle had requested the counsel of Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Brian Sykes on the matter to ascertain whether he objected to Williams retaining his documents. Mr. Sykes conferred with the investigating officer present who voiced no objections.
PLEADED NOT GUILTY
All the accused pleaded not guilty, and are slated to reappear in court on December 12 where the case is set for mention.
Williams was charged with 26 counts of forgery, 28 counts of uttering forged documents, 28 counts of demanding property on forged documents, three counts of conspiracy to defraud, one count of conspiracy to deceive, and one count of obtaining by false pretence.
Danwills Construction Ltd., of which Mr. Williams is a director, was charged as a separate entity and slapped with similar charges. Both Williams and his company are represented by Mrs. Samuels-Brown.
Karl Kirkland, who is employed to Williams, faces identical charges as his boss. He is represented by attorney-at-law Walter Scott.
Warren Sibbles, former director of technical services at NHDC, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud, and one count of conspiracy to deceive. Donovan Hill, NHDC project manager, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud. Both Sibbles and Hill are represented by attorney-at-law Carolyn Reid.
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD
Eujenny Porter, the 58-year-old head of the Melbrook Provident Society, answered charges of 13 counts of demanding property on forged documents, and one count of conspiracy to defraud. She is being represented by attorney-at-law Jack Hines.
Wayne Nash, chairman of the St. Benedict's Provident Society, answered to 13 counts of demanding property on forged documents, and one count of conspiracy to defraud. Dwight Dawkins, president of Morant Lands Provident Society, answered one charge of conspiracy to deceive, and one count of causing to be obtained. Both Nash and Dawkins are being represented by attorney-at-law Deborah Martin.
