Former Executive Director Renardo Smith called as Crown’s first witness

A Notice of Withdrawal asking for Andrew Wright’s fraud case involving the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) to be tried by jury was thrown out by Justice Lawrence Grainger, and the trial began in earnest on Tuesday, September 24.

The application was made by attorney Isat Buchanan who recently replaced King’s Counsel Peter Champaigne as Wright’s lead attorney.

Buchanan told Our Today that “the judge refused the notice of Withdrawal for Wright as well as one made on behalf of Oniel Hope. The defendants were arraigned, and the trial commenced”.

“Both Wright and Hope gave notice to the judge that they wanted a jury as well as withdrawing the agreement to have a judge-alone trial,” he noted.

An arraignment is usually the first court date in a criminal case where the defendant finds out what they’re charged with and what rights they have. If they can’t afford a lawyer, the judge can appoint one for them. The judge also sets the next court dates.

Wright faces the court after it was alleged that he masterminded defrauding INSPORTS to the tune of $222 million when he was finance manager at the agency in 2017.

The case that was originally scheduled to begin on Monday, September 16 in the Home Circuit Court but was postponed due to the fact that Wright had changed lawyers, and Buchanan was given a week to get familiar with the case.

Wright was arrested in April 2023 while at the Industrial Disputes Tribunal hearing he brought against INSPORTS for wrongful dismissal.

Wright, more famous as the promoter of the popular French Connection parties and five former INSPORTS employees are also implicated in the case. They are Hope, Rudolph Barnes, 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.

Former Executive Director Renardo Smith who resigned in 2021, was the crowns first witness.