Ex-WIPL director John Levy freed in cyber case, laments reputational damage

Businessman John Levy has lashed out at what he argues is the misuse of Jamaica’s cybercrime laws, after he was freed of criminal charges linked to a bitter dispute at energy company West Indies Petroleum Limited Jamaica (WIPL).

Prosecutors offered no evidence against Levy on the conspiracy charges he faced during an appearance before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on May 16. The judge then formally freed Levy of the charges.

Investigators from the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch in 2022 charged Levy and Courtney Wilkinson, former directors of WIPL, over allegations that they illegally accessed WIPL’s executives’ emails. They were controversially removed as directors in 2021.

Levy was represented by attorneys Christopher Townsend and Chadwick Berry.

Townsend said the case should never have been brought before the court.

“The prosecution ought not to prosecute matters where the prospect of success is slim and where there is little to no evidence. And, in this case, there was no evidence supporting any offence charged on the indictment,” he said.

Townsend explained that he had applied for a stay in the indictment against his client.

“The prosecution conceded that I was right,” he added.

STATEMENT

In a strongly worded statement after the charges were dropped, Levy decried the “devastation” wrought on his name, family, and business reputation over what he insisted was a manufactured case.

“What is damning about my criminal cyber matter is how Jamaica’s new cyber law was ... used to destroy my character in a protracted criminal case that was eventually dismissed,” he said.

Levy said he was hauled before court 19 times over four years, despite not being named in any witness statements except for the fact of his arrest.

“My family and I have endured reputational damage and irreparable harm in every community of society in which we are a part. What is more, we have suffered incalculable damage in our business and banking relationships forged over the course of our professional lives. The suffering we have endured has even extended to our travels overseas,” he said.

Wilkinson, and a third accused IT specialist, Winston Henry, remain before the court on cybercrime-related charges. Their trial is set to continue on November 24 and 25.

Wilkins and Levy are involved in a series of court disputes with WIPL and its executives. A major case involving WIPL’s parent company is also playing out in St Lucia. They are challenging a consent order with the parent company regarding the sale of their stake on the grounds that certain information was not disclosed to them. The company denied the allegations. Levy and Wilkinson maintain a 40 per cent equity stake in the parent company.

Justice David Batts noted the St Lucia case in a written opinion released in January in a local case involving the parties.

editorial@gleanerjm.com