Former Derrimon employee implicated in $29M fraud granted bail

An accounting clerk implicated in a $29 million fraud at Derrimon Trading was today granted $2 million bail when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

The former employee, Shemar Dawson, 30, who is jointly charged with Leonardo Jibbison, was offered bail by Parish Court Judge Sanchia Burrell following an application by attorney-at-law Javed Grant.

As part of the conditions, Dawson is required to report to the nearest police station to his home and surrender his travel documents.

Grant submitted that his client was a fit candidate for bail, noting that he had surrendered to the police and had no adverse antecedents.

Dawson was charged with larceny as a servant, conspiracy to defraud, and engaging in transactions involving criminal property.

Jibbison faces charges of conspiracy to defraud, engaging in transactions involving criminal property, and obtaining money by means of false pretence.

A part heard application for bail was made on Jibbison's behalf by attorney-at-law D’Ondre Buchanan but was adjourned for continuation on June 18.

Jibbison, as a result, was remanded.

According to investigators assigned to the Fraud Squad and the Financial Crimes Investigation Division of the Specialised Investigation Branch, the alleged fraud occurred between March 2024 and February 2026.

It is alleged that Dawson, in his capacity as an accounting clerk, falsified invoices and other financial documents, bypassing established procedures to facilitate the preparation of multiple cheques.

Some of the cheques were reportedly made payable to Jibbison, who was falsely presented as a legitimate supplier to the company.

Investigators say the scheme led to losses totalling $29 million, with Jibbison accused of encashing 17 cheques valued at more than $18 million.

Both men subsequently turned themselves in to the police and were taken into custody.

- Tanesha Mundle

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