Andrew Wright - file photo
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A report from Lorraine Walker; along with defence attorneys Alessandra LaBeach and Seymour Stewart
Former financial controller at the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS), Andrew Wright, was on Tuesday convicted in the $222 million fraud racket uncovered at the government-run sports agency eight years ago.
Two other defendants, Rudolph Barnes and O'Neil Hope, were also convicted before the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Wright was found guilty on 13 counts, while his former colleagues Barnes and Hope were convicted on 11 counts and eight counts, respectively.
Hope was, however, acquitted on four charges.
The men were remanded in custody until November 21, when they will return to court for sentencing.
The presiding judge ordered six weeks for the preparation of social inquiry and antecedent reports before the final penalties are handed down.
The convictions bring to a close another chapter in the long-running case, which uncovered a scheme that siphoned off millions from INSPORTS.
Three other defendants were freed at the trial.
The group was accused of being part of a network of former and current INSPORTS employees who allegedly wrote, signed and cashed fraudulent checks for individuals who were neither employed by nor contracted to the agency.
They faced various charges, including conspiracy to defraud, acquisition, use and possession of criminal property, engaging in transactions involving criminal property and, larceny as a servant.
The fraud and other irregularities were first discovered in 2017 during an internal review of INSPORTS' financial records.
The matter was subsequently referred to the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, triggering a long-running investigation.
Wright was eventually arrested in April 2023 while pursuing a wrongful dismissal case before the Industrial Disputes Tribunal.
The former INSPORTS financial controller is also known for promoting the French Connection and Chug It parties.
Defence attorneys Alessandra LaBeach, who represented Mr. Wright, and Seymour Stewart, who appeared on behalf of Mr. Hope, say they will be appealing the convictions.
"We have already identified several grounds and we are eager to have this portion of it completed so that we can get the matter before the Court of Appeal," Ms. LaBeach said.
"We do not agree with the verdicts. Everything that my client, Mr. Hope, did was duly and properly authorised from on high. We don't believe that he should have even been charged and we have already started the process to file our appeal," added Mr. Stewart.
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