Usain Bolt’s (36) accounts are said to have been emptied of NOK 120 million. Now the Jamaican authorities are asking the FBI for help in finding the money and thugs behind the fraud that is rocking the homeland of the world’s fastest man.
It writes news agency AP.
– The anger and discomfort we all know is heightened by the length of time the fraud has allegedly been going on – 13 years – and the fact that the suspects appear to have taken advantage of elderly people and our much-loved and national icon, Usain Bolt, says Jamaica’s finance minister Nigel Clarke according to the news agency..
The scam was first known a couple of weeks ago. It was then revealed that shares and bonds worth around NOK 60 million had disappeared from Usain Bolt’s accounts at the finance and investment company “Stocks and Securities Limited”.
After further investigation, it is believed that Bolt has been defrauded of over 120 million (US$12.7 million).
According to his lawyers, the balance should now be around NOK 120,000.
Bolt, which has become father of twins after he quit, is not alone in having been deceived. The fraudsters – one of whom is believed to have been employed by the financial institution – are said to have gradually drained various customers’ securities accounts over a period of more than 10 years.
Among others belonging to the Caribbean island’s National Health Fund and Jamaica’s National Agricultural Society. As well as private individuals, apparently older people.
The authorities have not been able to form an overview of how much has actually been lost in the extensive fraud enterprise.
Usain Bolt’s lawyers have given “Stocks and Securities Limited” (SSL) until Friday to make sure the money is back in his accounts. If that doesn’t happen, they will go to court on his behalf.
A publicly appointed finance committee launched an investigation into SSL after it became known that an employee of the firm was to be involved in the fraud. The chairman of the committee has since resigned. As a result of the Bolt fraud, Finance Minister Clarke has ordered the “Bank of Jamaica” – the country’s central bank – to regulate the country’s financial system.
– There is no reason to panic. Despite this very unfortunate development, Jamaica’s financial sector remains strong, says the finance minister.
Among other things, Usain Bolt won the gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters in three Olympics in a row, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016. He also won 11 World Cup golds. He ended his career by taking a bronze medal in the 100 meters in Athletics World Championships in 2017.
His still current world records for 100 meters and 200 meters are 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds, set at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009.
After athletics, he bet on a football career, among others in Strømsgodset – and Australia – without being particularly successful.
