Man accused of impersonating gov't minister Vaz in vehicle scam granted bail

The St Ann auto mechanic who allegedly used government minister Daryl Vaz's name to scam persons of over $5 million was offered bail in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Friday. 

Giovani Francis, 31, otherwise called 'Geico', of Delmar district, Drax Hall in St Ann, was nabbed in January and charged with conspiracy to defraud and attempting to obtain money by false pretence.

He was granted $2-million bail by Parish Judge Chester Crooks, following an application by his attorney-at-law Chadwick Berry. 

Francis is to surrender his travel documents and report to the police three times daily. He was also ordered not to visit Kingston Wharves or contact any of the complainants or witnesses as part of his bail conditions.

He is to return to court on May 17. 

According to allegations, Francis, claiming to be Vaz, lured persons into a scheme where money would be collected to ship motor vehicles into the island.

He reportedly collected $2.7 million and US$15,000 for the purchase of a motor vehicle which was not delivered on a date in 2020. 

Francis is further alleged to have contacted another person by telephone on January 10 this year, while purporting to be Vaz.

The accused allegedly claimed he could purchase two Toyota Prado motor vehicles at an upcoming auction at a reduced rate and requested payment of $2.5 million, which would cover the customs and storage fees.

The victim was told that he would not be required to make any further payment.

The would-be scam victim then raised suspicion and contacted the government minister who confirmed that the activity was a scam and encouraged the man to contact the police.

Subsequently, a report was made to the police and Francis was arrested during an operation.

Berry, in making the bail application, argued that his client was also a victim of the same scam.

He further told the court that although his client is fingered as the mastermind, calls were still being made by persons purporting to be Vaz while his client was in custody.

In June 2021, another man, Shawn Latham, a merchandiser of Kingston Drive, Kingston 19, was charged with obtaining money by false pretence and fraudulent conversion after investigators revealed that between June 9 and 14 of that year, he used Vaz's name and image to trick persons into making payments for vehicles.

- Tanesha Mundle

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