Investors in embattled investment club Olint Corporation Limited were yesterday advised that the entity's office in New Kingston would be closed to the public until further notice.

In a letter distributed via email, club members were told that the closure was due to threats to the lives of employees.

"It is with some regret that we advise that, as a result of threats to staff members, including a bomb threat within the last few days which is being taken seriously, the Club Member Care Office will be closed to the public as of Monday, July 14, 2008," the letter stated.

"All customer care lines and email lines will be opened to facilitate communication with you notwithstanding this safety measure which we have had to impose," the letter added.

Complaint filed

Less than three weeks ago, reports surfaced that the National Futures Association (NFA), a regulatory organisation for the United States futures industry, had filed a complaint to its business conduct committee against I-Trade FX LLC (and one of its principals, Isaac Martinez), a company NFA alleges Smith was a principal of.

The letter to Olint's customers stated that "the last 18 months have been testing ones for the club, as we were clearly faced with conspiratorial scheme(s) since 2006 ... ".

Yesterday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) also issued a statement in which it stressed that if Olint has not made payments to its investors, the public should be aware that "this is not due to any enforcement action taken by the FSC".

"The public should be reminded that under the court order, Olint and its directors are free to honour obligations to their investors," FSC stated.

Yesterday, in an advertisement carried in The Gleaner, the National Commercial Bank (NCB) stated that it had become aware of rumours circulating recently regarding Olint's accounts.

Though not expanding on what those rumours stated, NCB noted it could not lawfully refuse to accept any deposit which Olint would wish to make to its accounts.