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Kingston attorney, co-accused granted $10m-bail in money laundering case
Published: Friday December 20, 2013 | 1:07 pm 0 Comments
Police packing files into a pickup truck during a raid on a attorney\'s Duke Street office. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Police packing files into a pickup truck during a raid on a attorney's Duke Street office. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer
Dawn Satterswaite, the Kingston-based attorney and two other accused charged with money laundering have been granted bail in the sum of $10 million each.
The other two accused are: 53-year-old insurance contractor, Paulette Higgins of Norman Gardens, Kingston, and 50-year-old Janet Ramsay of Portmore, St Catherine.
A fourth accused Ann-Marie Cleary did not appear in court because she is ill in a Manchester hospital.
Satterswaite, Higgins and Ramsay appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning before Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey.
In outlining the case, prosecutors revealed that over an 11-year period between 1998 and 2009, 30 high-value properties were bought for convicted drug kingpin, Andrew Hamilton.
The prosecutors said the properties were later registered to Hamilton’s relatives as well as close family friends.
The prosecutors further alleged that the properties were purchased by Satterswaite for a total of $500 million.
Hamilton has pleaded guilty in California to drug, money laundering and firearm-related charges and is to be sentenced next February.
Prosecutors say following Hamilton’s conviction, the US Drug Enforcement Agency requested a civil investigation into Hamilton’s assets in Jamaica.
This led to a restraining order on 17 of the properties.
Prosecutors say investigations later revealed that the 11 properties were transferred in 2001 with a total value of $324 million.
They also alleged that Satterswaite was the person collecting the rent and maintaining the properties.
In setting the bail conditions RM Pusey said the charges were very serious.
“It is not a simple issue, the allegations speak about large sums of money and these are some of the things that the government, present and past, is trying to stamp.”
As part of their bail conditions, a stop order has been placed against the three accused.
They are also required to surrender their travel documents and report to the offices of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force every Monday.
Published: Friday December 20, 2013 | 1:07 pm 0 Comments
Police packing files into a pickup truck during a raid on a attorney\'s Duke Street office. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Police packing files into a pickup truck during a raid on a attorney's Duke Street office. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer
Dawn Satterswaite, the Kingston-based attorney and two other accused charged with money laundering have been granted bail in the sum of $10 million each.
The other two accused are: 53-year-old insurance contractor, Paulette Higgins of Norman Gardens, Kingston, and 50-year-old Janet Ramsay of Portmore, St Catherine.
A fourth accused Ann-Marie Cleary did not appear in court because she is ill in a Manchester hospital.
Satterswaite, Higgins and Ramsay appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning before Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey.
In outlining the case, prosecutors revealed that over an 11-year period between 1998 and 2009, 30 high-value properties were bought for convicted drug kingpin, Andrew Hamilton.
The prosecutors said the properties were later registered to Hamilton’s relatives as well as close family friends.
The prosecutors further alleged that the properties were purchased by Satterswaite for a total of $500 million.
Hamilton has pleaded guilty in California to drug, money laundering and firearm-related charges and is to be sentenced next February.
Prosecutors say following Hamilton’s conviction, the US Drug Enforcement Agency requested a civil investigation into Hamilton’s assets in Jamaica.
This led to a restraining order on 17 of the properties.
Prosecutors say investigations later revealed that the 11 properties were transferred in 2001 with a total value of $324 million.
They also alleged that Satterswaite was the person collecting the rent and maintaining the properties.
In setting the bail conditions RM Pusey said the charges were very serious.
“It is not a simple issue, the allegations speak about large sums of money and these are some of the things that the government, present and past, is trying to stamp.”
As part of their bail conditions, a stop order has been placed against the three accused.
They are also required to surrender their travel documents and report to the offices of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force every Monday.
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