Usain Bolt, who lost millions to a Jamaican investment firm, a year later apparently addresses cheating scandal: ‘Still a fight’

World-famous sprinter Usain Bolt reflects on the lack of millions in a cheating scandal in a newly released video.

According to the Jamaica-Gleaner, in early 2023, Bolt discovered that just about $13 million had disappeared from his account at investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL). After being tipped off by a former worker connected to the scheme, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist’s balance was just $12,000. A year later, he still hadn’t received the cash. The investigation is ongoing.

“Oh man, so it has been a year. I just want to know that I’m still here, keep fighting, keep hanging on, at all times keep going, stay strong. You understand how it’s done within the country,” Bolt, who at age 37 stays the world record holder within the 100- and 200-meter sprints, said on Jan. 11 in a video posted on social media.

“To all the people who support me, keep supporting me… One love,” he continued.

SSL made headlines after it was revealed that an estimated $30 million was stolen from greater than 200 accounts, including Bolt’s, it said. The only person charged within the case was former customer relations manager Jean-Ann Panton.

According to the Jamaica-Star, Panton faces a variety of charges, including engaging in transactions involving criminal property, forgery and theft in his capability as a servant. She reportedly admitted to smuggling funds “over several years” by creating “false statements to customers that stated what they should have in their accounts rather than the amount they actually had in their accounts.”

Panton was named together with nine others as defendants in a lawsuit filed by certainly one of the scheme’s victims, Jean Forde, who claims $830,000 was taken from her wallet.

As a part of her legal motion, Panton claimed that her boss, Hugh Croskery, encouraged her to admit wrongdoing.

“It is with concern that the second defendant (Panton) submits that the background to the alleged confession was based on a suggestion made by the third defendant (Croskery) on behalf of the primary defendant (SSL). The said offer was an inducement and otherwise the declaration wouldn’t have been made,” her defense team explained in a May 2023 lawsuit. “The second defendant (Panton) subsequently challenges the plaintiff to rigorously prove the validity of the alleged confession and charges against him in accordance with the law “.

Last September, Jamaica’s finance chief, Nigel Clarke, announced that taxpayers could be accountable for the wages of employees who continued to work at the corporate amid the investigation, sparking a public outcry.

“I will provide the public with more detailed information as it becomes available. However, we are talking about 22 employees whose monthly salary is $9.5 million. In addition, there are operating costs of approximately $5 million along with some one-time expenses,” Clarke explained on the time.