The alleged mastermind behind the multi-million dollar electronic fraud scam rocking some of the island's financial institutions, is now in custody.
He is 23-year-old Andre Beckford, who the police say has no fixed address.
Mr. Beckford, who absconded bail, was recaptured last week by C-TOC detectives. He faces two years in prison for absconding bail.
He appeared before the St. Andrew Parish Court on Wednesday where he was remanded until Thursday.
Two other persons charged jointly with him were also remanded. They are Kelisha Simmonds and Clyde McDonald.
Investigators alleged that Mr. Beckford has been at the centre of the fraud in which millions of dollars have been illegally transferred from accounts of companies and individuals over the last two years.
The police say Mr. Beckford has been recruiting young women in the scam.
It is alleged that Mr. Beckford and members of his network have been targeting customers' accounts at financial institutions in the Corporate Area, St. Ann, St. Elizabeth and other parishes.
The cops say members of the criminal network have been hacking into accounts after banking information were leaked to them.
They then created bank accounts in the names of persons recruited to carry out the scam.
The money was then transferred to the accounts and the cash withdrawn.
The scam has forced the island's major financial institutions to implement security measures to protect customers' accounts.
National Commercial Bank (NCB) last week announced that it will continue to put mechanisms in place to block unauthorized users from accessing customer information.
Hanover Co-operative Credit Union
In the meantime, four more persons accused in the electronic theft of $15 million from the Hanover Co-operative Credit Union were also remanded when they appeared before the St. Andrew Parish Court on Wednesday.
This increases to five the number of persons charged in connection with the fraud.
C-TOC investigators reported on Wednesday that eight other persons are to be charged in the case.
In addition to Andre Beckford, those who appeared in court on Wednesday are Sharon Smith, Raymond Forbes, Patricia Armstrong and Nadine Cameron.
Smith, Forbes and Cameron were remanded until next month, while the attorneys for Miss Armstrong are to apply for bail on Monday.
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