Cops throw book at Joey

(CNS): Despite his continuing protestations of innocence, the former MD of the Electricity Regulatory Authority and candidate for North Side has been charge with 29 different counts of theft and fraud related offences during his short time as the ERA boss. Joeseph 'Joey' Ebanks has been bailed to return to court on 16 April to answer the multiple dishonesty charges. The controversial character, who is also facing a number of civil legal threats as a result of the allegations he has been making on his Facebook page, answered bail on Tuesday morning as required, the police said. He was then charged by officers from the Financial Crimes Unit, as Ebanks had predicted.

The 49-year-old would-be politician was arrested in the Pedro area on Wednesday6 March on suspicion of abuse of office, theft and suspicion of possession of a drug utensil, shortly after he was suspended from his job at the public authority when a number of financial irregularities turned up in a public audit.

Ebanks has categorically denied the allegations, which he says are all part of a conspiracy against him as a result of his efforts to expose corruption.

However, he has been charged with eight counts of obtaining property by deception, seven counts of theft, one count of obtaining a money transfer by deception, one count of transferring criminal property, nine counts of making a document without authority, one count of obtaining property by deception and two counts of forgery.

No charges have been laid in relation to the drug utensil.

See related stories on CNS:

http://caymannewsservice.com/crime/2013/04/09/joey-took-salary-advance

http://caymannewsservice.com/politics/2013/04/05/ebanks-triggers-bid-probe