St Andrew businessman on $1.2m bail in car fraud case

A St Andrew businessman who allegedly collected millions of dollars for motor vehicles he failed to deliver has been granted bail in the sum of $1.2 million with surety.

Nicholas Morgan, 35, is facing six counts of obtaining money by means of false pretence. He appeared before the St Catherine Parish Court on Friday, where all the complainants were present and expressed a desire to be repaid.

Morgan’s attorney successfully applied for bail on the basis that the accused intended to make restitution if granted bail. He said his client had no intention to defraud, but had failed to deliver the vehicles on time.

Senior Parish Court Judge Desiree Alleyne granted bail of $200,000 on each of the six counts. The conditions are that Morgan reports to the Duhaney Park Police Station once per week, surrenders his travel documents, is placed on a stop order, and reappears in court on November 28.

The judge told the defence that bail was being granted to give the accused time to make restitution ahead of his next court date.

Allegations are that between January and July this year, Morgan collected $1.3 million from one complainant for a 2019 Honda Fit motor car but failed to deliver the vehicle at the agreed time.

Efforts to recover the money proved futile, and the matter was reported to the police.

Following his arrest, several other complainants made similar reports, leading to five additional fraud charges being laid against him.

- Rasbert Turner

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