Peter Sangster, grandnephew of late former Prime Minister Donald Sangster, on Thursday denied forging Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller’s signature on a waiver to defraud his boss of US$750,000, while claiming he is anxious to restore the name and reputation of his family.
The 47-year-old politician and businessman of Cherry Gardens in Kingston, was arrested last Tuesday and charged with forgery, uttering forged documents and obtaining money by false pretence.
However, he was offered $1 million bail when he appeared before Senior Parish Judge Andrea Pettigrew-Collins, following a bail application by his lawyer, Cecile Griffith-Ashton, in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.
The court heard that the accused, who was the managing director of Jamus Communications Limited, between January 2011 and August 2013, solicited and obtained over US$750,000 from the chairman of the company with the promise of providing a waiver of the levy owed by the company to the Universal Service Fund (USF).
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It is alleged that Sangster told the company’s chairman that he could get a waiver for the company and told him that it would cost US$600,000 to activate the waiver, but the figure was negotiated down to US$20,000.
It is further reported that Sangster told the chairman that he would be required to cover costs associated with the provision of the waiver, including legal and customs fees.
The court heard that the chairman subsequently wired the money to Sangster’s account.
However, it was later discovered that the waiver was fraudulent after his attorney wrote a letter to the USF.
But in court on Thursday, Sangster’s attorney said that her client was innocent and denied the allegations.
“His name and reputation is very important to him and he is anxious to have his name cleared and his anxiety stems from the fact that he is the grandnephew of (a) former prime minister and would like the name and reputation of his family to be restored,” she said.
Griffith-Ashton also told the court that her client was an active politician who has worked hard to uplift communities in East Kingston.
She also said: “He was an altar boy and he and his family worship at Stella Maris Catholic Church”.
Following her application, Sangster was offered bail on the conditions that, on Mondays, he reports at the Constant Spring Police Station and surrenders his travel document. A stop order is also in place.
Another condition of his bail is that he refrain from making any form of contact with the witnesses in the matter.
He is scheduled to return to court on May 8.