by Linda Straker
Lester Smith and Nigel “German” Mckie were each placed on EC$50,000 bail when they appeared today at the St George’s Magistrate’s Court No. 1, on multiple charges of fraud and forgery.
Smith, who is the Technical Director of the Grenada Football Association, is facing 10 counts of forgery and conspiracy, while Nigel “German” McKie of Young Generation Basketball and Sports Club, is jointly charged with him on 2 of those charges.
Both men were each placed on EC$50,000 bail for the indictable offences, which carry a maximum of 15 years imprisonment if found guilty.
Reports are that both men were under investigation by the US Embassies in Grenada and Barbados, after what was identified as irregularities or false declarations in some visa applications by some applicants who were attempting to travel with the women football team to Puerto Rico in August 2015.
“US officials at the Bridgetown embassy discovered that there were false declarations among some of the applicants, who claimed they had to accompany the national football team to Puerto Rico,” said one sporting official, who prefers not to be identified.
The investigations were conducted by officials at both embassies during the past weeks, and the findings were handed over the office of the Director of Public Prosecution. The men are expected to return to court on 8 December 2015.
