New charges laid against former Petrojam officials, trial set for May next year

New charges have been laid against former Petrojam general manager Floyd Grindley and former chairman Dr Percival Bahado-Singh in their fraud case.

Grindley was facing eight counts of aiding and abetting obtaining money by means of false pretense, while Bahado-Singh was to answer to 12 charges related to US$73,620 that he allegedly improperly obtained as chairman of the oil refinery.

The new charges include fraudulent conversion, aiding and abetting fraudulent conversion, conspiracy to defraud, and one count of obtaining money by false pretense.

The previous charges have been laid on file, meaning that the offences may be reinstated at a later date by the prosecution.

The new charges were disclosed by prosecutor Caroline Hay when the matter was heard in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court this morning.

The case was set to go on trial today.

Hay asked the court for more time to prepare to produce an indictment.

As a result, a new trial date was set for May next year.

The trial is to be held between May 9 and 20 and May 24 to 27.

Parish judge Maxine Ellis ordered that disclosure be made on or before January 31.

The bails of the accused, who reside overseas, were extended.

Meanwhile, Grindley's attorney K D Knight criticised the prosecution saying the Crown's preparation mirrors chaos, borne out of "uncertainty and confusion".

Knight argued that the prosecution's case is in disarray.

"The prosecution is flip-flopping because there is no proper place on which to perch," he said, adding that he expects his client to walk free.

Grindley is also being represented by Bianca Samuels while Bahado-Singh is represented by Bert Samuels and Matthew Hyatt.

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