The long-delayed fraud trial involving former Education Minister Ruel Reid and his co-accused officially began in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court on Monday afternoon, following multiple objections over an order of indictment.
Last week, attorney Hugh Wildman, representing former Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) president Fritz Pinnock, objected to the Crown being granted the order by Senior Parish Court Judge Sanchia Burrell.
An indictment, which formally charges individuals with criminal offences, had been contested on legal grounds. However, Judge Burrell ruled that the matter had already been definitively settled by the Court of Appeal, clearing the way for the trial to proceed.
Pinnock, Reid, along with Reid’s wife Sharen, daughter Sharelle, and Jamaica Labour Party councillor Kim Brown Lawrence, were arrested and charged in 2019 following an investigation by the Financial Investigations Division (FID). The probe alleged that over $25 million was diverted from the CMU to the Ministry of Education under Reid’s tenure.
Despite repeated objections from the defence, the five defendants were arraigned on a 35-count indictment, and all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial will resume on Thursday.
