According to police sources, a local bank in Nevis BON) is currently undergoing an investigation into the possibility that millions of United States Dollars were deposited to the account of one of its customers over the past 18 months. The Bank of Nevis Limited has reportedly filed a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime Act. 2000 as amended 2011 of the Laws of St. Kitts and Nevis in the expansion of its investigation. So far investigations point to certain breaches of vigilance and confidentiality norms. Senior staff members of the bank including Ms. Lorna Hunkins and Manager Mr. L. Everette Martin are reportedly either on suspension pending the outcome of investigations or have being asked to resign. According to sources, the scope of the investigations is increasing daily and additional assistance may be required to allow for a more speedy understanding of all relevant issues. NASPA’s Chief Security Officer, Mr. David “EL” Hendrickson On June 13th 2014 over US$1,649,000.00 was deposited into the personal savings account of Mr. David Elroy Hendrickson. The Security Chief signed a large transaction report and provided supporting documentation to justify this extremely large and unusual transaction. What is alarming about the documents supplied by security chief “EL” is the fact that they are connected to the CCM-led Nevis island Government. First off he provided the bank with a copy of an invoice totaling US$1,650,000.00 from him (David Hendrickson) to a Naples General Trading Company of Erbil, Iraq for the sale of ten (10) acres of land at Potworks Nevis for US$1,500,000.00 and US$150,000.00 for legal fees and Alien Land Holding License. The Security Chief also presented the Bank with a letter signed by the Nevis Minister of Lands Mr. Alexis Jeffers dated 29 April 2014 and addressed to Naples General Trading Company c/o of David E. Hendrickson referring to the 10 acre plot at Potworks Estate. For the avoidance of doubt the Security Chief presented the bank with a copy of the survey plan of the land that is identified as “Plot B” on Nevis Housing and Land Development Corporation NHLDC letterhead. The Security Chief also had in his possession a copy of an email from the SWIFT confirmation for the transfer of US$1,650,000.00 from Emerald Bank in Iraq to Bank of Nevis Ltd. The US$1,650,000.00 transaction was approved by Ms. Denise Walters Senior banking official, to pay for the invoice numbered 3143225. Ms. Walters is the sister in law of Mr. David Hendrickson. The particulars disclosed on the invoice is the Plot of land owned by the NHLDC which is a Statutory Corporation formed by government for the purpose of holding Nevis government land. According to sources, when the compliance department learned of the transaction, the General Manager of the Bank of Nevis Ltd. Mr. Everett Martin was contacted by telephone. Mr. Martin has since been placed on suspension and Mrs. Lisa Jones-Herbert is the Acting General Manager of the Bank of Nevis. This transaction has not been the first very large transaction for Mr. Hendrickson however. The Security Chief is a former police officer and since his retirement he has been employed by the Nevis Air and Sea Port Authority (NASPA) for some 14 years. From all accounts though, Mr. Hendrickson has been running a very active business via his Bank of Nevis Ltd personal accounts which in total over the past 18 months has received almost $14 Million dollars most of which originated in Iraq. For example, on the 4th January 2013, the Security Chief’s personal account received some US$525, 076.59 or EC$1,411, 510.92 again approved by Denise Walters. The reason Mr. Hendrickson gave to the Bank for this large transaction was to purchase some computer hardware. There are two strange things about this reason. The first is that he received the money but stated that it was for the purchase of computers. Two is that he did not purchase any computer hardware for the then Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) led government which was facing an election on the 22nd January 2013 some 3 weeks after this mysterious deposit was made into Mr. Hendrickson’s personal account from a company called AED International LLC. c/o Southpac Director Management of the Cook Islands. On the 18th January 2013, the Security Chief again received some $80,583.10 from AED again and this time he declared that this was received from AED for sourcing computer. This transaction was approved by Lorna Hunkins. On March 4th 2013 Mr. Hendrickson received some $212, 834.04 for the sourcing construction Equipment. On 22nd march Mr. Hendrickson received $2,829,581.94 into his personal bank account approved by Lorna Hunkins for the payment of invoice number 314395. On the 23rd April 2013 the Security Chief received $414,951.54 into his personal account for reference to invoice number 314 3101. On the Security Chief received $2,775,399.95 into his account from AED International for services rendered. On December 10th 2013 $40,199.77 were received into the personal account of the CCM NASPA Security Chief to purchase GSM Equipment. On 26th February 2014 $1, 482,044.76 was received into the Security Chief’s personal bank account for payment of an invoice. The pattern of transactions led up to through the 28th February and 7th May 2014 for amounts of $78,081.66 and $107,429.68 respectively until the 13th June 2014 transaction from Naples General Trading Company of Erbil Iraq for US$1, 650,000.00 to pay for 10 acres of land at Potworks Estate Nevis. Previously, on the 27th May 2014 a similar transaction for US$1, 500,000.00 was sent to the account of Octagon Consultants and Services Limited at St. Kitts and Nevis National Bank for the purchase of the same 10 acres of land. The legal and beneficial owners of Octagon Consultants are Premier of Nevis Vance Amory and his wife Verni Amory. Could there be a possible link between Mr. David Elroy Hendrickson and Premier of Nevis Vance Amory? Following the Octagon transaction the Premier of Nevis Amory failed or refused to comment on allegations of money laundering and fraud in his government. However, last week he broke his silence and denied that he was guilty of any wrong doing. Premier Amory also explained the involvement of Octagon Consulting Services in the arrangement. “Octagon Consulting Services is an offshore provider and registered agent and provides services such as registration of companies and the management of the investments for its customers. In this respect, I am aware that Naples Company for General Trading Ltd to be its registered agent in Nevis and to establish a company to manage its affairs in Nevis,” the premier said “Sometime thereafter when the cabinet had met, I was advised that the developer Naples Company for General Trading Ltd. had sent the purchase price of the land to Octagon Consulting Services Ltd. to be paid in full to the Nevis Housing and Land Development Corporation upon closing of the transaction. My fellow citizens, this is a normal practice when foreign developers are dealing with the government that they use an agent to manage their businesses here on land,” the premier said. He said Octagon Consulting Services Ltd is a company in which he and his wife were shareholders incorporated on May 18th 2007—an approved agent providing offshore services. Mr. Amory, who was director of the company, said he has had no involvement with the company since he became Premier in January 2013 and has resigned as director.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 23:15:57 +0000
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