Courts told Italian businessman owes government over $52,000

Italian businessman and managing director of JT Yachting SVG Ltd, Antiono Genchi has owed the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines $58,284.97 since 2008.{{more}}

This was revealed on Wednesday at the Serious Offences Court, when Accountant General, Ingrid Fitzpatrick was called as a defence witness in the largest cash bust case in the history of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

The matter involves Antonio “Que Pasa” Gellizeau, who is charged with concealing on the Yacht “Jotobin” on April 5, 2008, at Calliaqua, property of US$1,733,463 (EC$4,628,346), which in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represents proceeds of criminal conduct. He is also charged with bringing the money into St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the yacht.

Bermudan Winston Robinson and Trinidadian Kent Andrews are similarly charged. They are also charged with bringing the money into St. Vincent and the Grenadines and entering the country without notifying Customs.

Genchi, who had given testimony when the case was first heard, said that Gellizeau bought the vessel from him in 2006 for US$85,000.

Fitzpatrick said she had two cheques bearing Genchi’s name and noted that the Government has not been able to cash those cheques because they were returned by the bank owing to insufficient funds.

The first cheque was a cheque for $3,284.97, dated November 1, 2007. It was written to the Accountant General and paid to the income tax department, but was returned for insufficient funds.

The second cheque is dated April 4, 2008 for $55,000. Fitzpatrick said this was paid to the Registry department.

Fitzpatrick told the court that several calls were made to Genchi, but no money has ever been paid.

She said she wrote to the Commissioner of Police, who sent an officer to the Treasury and to date, nothing has been done.(KW)