Laptops stolen from SSL office in Jamaica

Several laptop computers, including that of the chief financial officer, were stolen from Jamaican investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) in Kingston on Wednesday night.

The police are currently investigating, and the office has been closed.

According to reports, thieves reportedly entered the building through a kitchen window. The full extent of the robbery is not yet clear.

The robbery happened on the same day that the Financial Investigations Division shared that the multimillion-dollar fraud at the company has exceeded some US $30 million and impacted over 200 accounts.

FID also highlighted the complexity of the investigation, as it involves a comprehensive examination of the company’s activities dating back to the inception of SSL in 2006.

“The meticulous inquiry requires a thorough analysis of the entire time period, scrutinising the flow of investor funds. This process, by its nature, is time-consuming and deliberate,” they said in a statement on Wednesday.

The investigation has also revealed criminal breaches involving the company and people associated with it.

“Presently, the findings indicate potential criminal and regulatory breaches involving both the company itself and individuals associated with it. It should be noted that these matters are distinct from the ongoing court case, which centers on a prolonged fraud affecting numerous investors,” FID said.

So far, police have arrested and charged one individual: Jean Ann Panton, a former SSL client relationship manager.

She is facing a 21-count indictment charging her with forgery, larceny as a servant, and engaging in a transaction involving criminal property. She appeared again in court on Wednesday and was remanded until May 27, 2024.

Panton is accused of fleecing roughly $3 billion from more than 30 SSL clients over a 10-year period.

Olympian Usain Bolt and a sitting Member of Parliament, whose name is being withheld, are among the more than 30 people whose investments at SSL are believed to be among those fleeced by a wealth advisor.

Read the latest on SSL: SSL fraud exceeds US$30M, says Jamaican FID