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The Mayor of St. Ann's Bay Ivan Anderson has been slapped with fraud charges.
An arrest warrant was executed on Mr. Anderson this morning charging him with fraud in the amount of $5 million.
After Mr. Anderson was formally served with the warrant, he appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Christine Tai and was offered $500,000 bail with one or two sureties.
The matter has been set for mention on February 1 next year.
Mr. Anderson's defence attorney Ernie Smith told RJR News that his client is innocent of the charges.
“Absolutely and completely innocent. As a matter of fact, let me say this, that based on the facts which have been reviewed with me, the person who made the complaint, is in fact is not the owner of the property,” Mr. Smith said.
Last week Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn ruled that fraud charges should be laid against Mr. Anderson.
The Mayor is alleged to have defrauded a woman of $5 million in a real estate deal.
It is alleged that Mr. Anderson sold a piece of property in Manchester for $8 million on behalf of a relative, but failed to turn over $5 million of the proceeds, as was agreed.
The police were called and following an investigation, he was questioned by the Brown's Town Police in October, and a file submitted to the Clerk of Courts.
Last Friday Mr. Anderson announced that he has taken temporary leave of absence from his duties at the St. Ann Parish Council.
He said he has indicated to the People's National Party and his colleagues at the St. Ann Parish Council that he will be taking leave of his position as Mayor until the case is resolved.
An arrest warrant was executed on Mr. Anderson this morning charging him with fraud in the amount of $5 million.
After Mr. Anderson was formally served with the warrant, he appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Christine Tai and was offered $500,000 bail with one or two sureties.
The matter has been set for mention on February 1 next year.
Mr. Anderson's defence attorney Ernie Smith told RJR News that his client is innocent of the charges.
“Absolutely and completely innocent. As a matter of fact, let me say this, that based on the facts which have been reviewed with me, the person who made the complaint, is in fact is not the owner of the property,” Mr. Smith said.
Last week Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn ruled that fraud charges should be laid against Mr. Anderson.
The Mayor is alleged to have defrauded a woman of $5 million in a real estate deal.
It is alleged that Mr. Anderson sold a piece of property in Manchester for $8 million on behalf of a relative, but failed to turn over $5 million of the proceeds, as was agreed.
The police were called and following an investigation, he was questioned by the Brown's Town Police in October, and a file submitted to the Clerk of Courts.
Last Friday Mr. Anderson announced that he has taken temporary leave of absence from his duties at the St. Ann Parish Council.
He said he has indicated to the People's National Party and his colleagues at the St. Ann Parish Council that he will be taking leave of his position as Mayor until the case is resolved.