Isat Buchanan has replaced King’s Counsel Peter Champagne as the lead attorney for Andrew Wright in the $222-million fraud case at the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS).

Buchanan, whose popularity soared after successfully having dancehall icon Vybz Kartel’s murder conviction overturned, told Our Today that he’s familiarising himself with the case that was scheduled to start today (Monday, September 16) in the Home Circuit Court but was postponed.

“The court was gracious and most generous to provide a week to go through 10 years of material,” said Buchanan.

“Just received disclosure in this matter and am currently working with my team to be put in a position to assist Mr Wright,” he pointed out.

Buchanan, who is the son of reggae icon Manley Augustus Buchanan more popularly known as Big Youth, will have his hands full with a case that dates back to 2017.

At that time, Wright, who was INSPORTS’ finance manager, is said to be the mastermind behind the reported $222m fraud case at the institution, which is an agency of the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports.

Wright, more famous as the promoter of the popular French Connection parties, was arrested in April 2023 while at the Industrial Disputes Tribunal hearing he brought against INSPORTS for wrongful dismissal.

Five other former INSPORTS employees are also implicated in the case. They are Rudolph Barnes, Oneil Hope, Jonnique Mills, Andrea Picton, and Sherene Farquharson.

They are all accused of various offences, including conspiracy to defraud, acquisition, use, and possession of criminal property, engaging in transactions involving criminal property, and larceny as a servant.

The prosecution has disclosed that it intends to rely on 50 witnesses during what is expected to be a three-month trial.