Ray Morgan award, TAJ scam warning and church peace call lead national agenda

A Supreme Court award of $79 million to Ray Morgan, warnings about fraudulent tax-payment websites and renewed church appeals for national peace dominated CVM’s Lead Story on June 10.

Morgan was convicted in February 2011 on four counts of obtaining money by false pretences and received consecutive prison terms amounting to 12 years. He said he prepared his appeal shortly after conviction and gave it to prison officials, but the documents did not reach the clerk of court as required. His appeal remained unresolved for years, and in 2021 the Court of Appeal treated it as abandoned and academic because he had already served the sentence.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council later found a serious miscarriage of justice and sent the matter back to the Court of Appeal. On reconsideration, the sentence was reduced to four years and six months. The court found Morgan had spent an additional 2,054 days, nearly seven years, in custody. In March, the Supreme Court awarded damages for breaches of his constitutional rights.

CVM also aired exchanges between reporter Natasha Williams and Morgan’s attorney, John Clark, about payment of the award. Clark said he expected matters to be finalised by Friday and indicated that checks were still being made about funds, accounts and related legal costs.

In another segment, Tax Administration Jamaica said it had detected a fake site claiming to process traffic-ticket payments. Chief Corporate Communications Officer Maris Horton said TAJ was not aware of anyone losing money through that site, but urged taxpayers to use only www.jamaicatax.gov.jm and to report suspected fraud to the police cybercrime or fraud authorities.

Attorney and data protection expert Chuck Cameron said Jamaicans need stronger digital-safety education as government services move online. He urged users to check for secure websites, be cautious with personal credentials and alert banks if information may have been compromised.

The programme also reported on the death of 13-year-old Chameleia Paul, an Excelsia High School student who died Tuesday after being stabbed at her Harbour View home on May 9 while trying to intervene in a dispute. Police said 29-year-old Camar Mitchell turned himself in and was charged. Bishop Dr Roy Notice, chairman of the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches, called for weekend prayers, school reflection and broader family-focused action against violence.