A high-level probe into the missing USD$12 million investment of Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt at Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) has revealed that a significant portion of his funds never made it into his account at the brokerage firm. According to a report from Nationwide News Network, international forensic investigators, including UK-based Kroll Associates, have uncovered that Bolt’s principal investment was stolen before it ever reached his SSL account.
The revelation adds a new layer of complexity to the already grim outlook for Bolt’s chances of recovering his money. According to NNN, sources indicate that Bolt’s management team was deceived with fake invoices and account updates sent by Jean-Ann Panton, the former SSL employee now facing multiple fraud charges. These falsified documents led Bolt’s team to believe that his investment had not only been securely placed at SSL but was also growing in value over time.
The NNN report said investigators have determined that the bulk of the money sent by Bolt for investment never actually reached an SSL account, raising serious concerns about the extent of the fraud and the potential for restitution. This finding has cast major doubt over whether the sprint icon will ever see the return of the substantial sum he had been led to believe was accumulating.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is still awaiting further documentation from the Financial Investigations Division (FID) before making determinations on whether additional individuals from SSL will face criminal charges. The documents are expected to provide key evidence in assessing whether there is enough proof to prosecute other individuals connected to the massive fraud.
Jean-Ann Panton has already been charged and is before the court, having allegedly confessed to orchestrating fraudulent activities involving multiple client accounts over several years. In the wake of the scandal, Bolt revealed that he had dismissed a member of his management team who was responsible for overseeing his investments at SSL.
Speaking on the popular podcast ‘The Fix’ earlier this week, Bolt expressed his growing frustration with the sluggish pace of the investigation into his missing funds. He firmly believes that the Jamaican Government can and should do more to facilitate the return of his investment, emphasizing that it holds the key to a resolution.
With these latest revelations, Bolt’s battle to reclaim his fortune remains uncertain, as investigators continue to piece together the extent of the fraud and potential avenues for justice.
