Sentence sticks for white collar thief
(CNS): A 57-year-old South African national who stole over US$846,000 from a local legal firm will continuing serving his seven and a half year sentence after the court of appeal dismissed his appeal on Wednesday. Levitt had argued that his sentence was manifestly excessive but the panel of three judges disagreed when they upheld the sentence and stated that their reasons would be delivered in writing shortly. Levitt had admitted seven counts of theft and related crimes in connection with more than 80 fraudulent transactions from the accounts of Solomon Harris, where he was employed as the financial controller.
Category: Crime
Here's another thing that no one seems to take into consideration. It's said that this "low life" ripped off the firm for some US$856,000.00 and he has been sentenced for seven and one half years in Hotel Northward for his misdeeds! That works out to some US$122,000.00 per year, plus he is getting free room and board. Add another CI$50,000.00 to that and this guy is living better than he did when he was working.
I say this because nothing was said about him having to pay back the money stolen so the likely-hood is that he has this money stashed away some place for his retirement fund. I guess crime does pay!
Seven years in Hotel Northward is nothing to pay for a $856,000.00, He'll still be young enough to enjoy the fruits of his "employer" when he gets out. Too bad we don't have the old Cow Cod anymore! It would be fun to watch him being whipped in a public place before going to Hotel Northward. Oh well! It seems that crime does pay! At least in the Cayman Islands it does..
This man is a CON artist! And those who hired him must take some of the blame for what he did.
It is quite obvious that a thorough background check was never done, because if it had been, those who employed him have had to discover his criminal background. I will venture to say that this man's credentials was never thoroughly checked by immigration when he arrived here as it should have been. One of the weaknesses in our immigration system is, [in my opinion] the acceptance of recommendations by friends who, may know those, whose job it is to check the background of every non resident that arrives to this Island and applies for a work permit. This obviously was not done! So there should be no surprise that these things are happening?
By the way! This incident is not a one of! And remember! This man, also did voluntary work at the pines! Wasn't this the same Pines that was ripped off by another expatriate? Someone who is now back in Great Britain [as I'm told] and then there's one Mr. Said who still has not been brought back to face justice, and lastly we have those who disappear for six months without leave from Government Authorities and nothing is being said re an explanation as to his whereabouts or if "He" is coming back to the Island.
This is the ineptitude that exists in Cayman! Why don't we try to find and employ qualified Caymanians? It is my opinion that a lot of these businesses do not want to employ Caymanians because that is also convenient, because a lot of these so called legit businesses are also involved in corrupt dealings. Sometimes it seems to me that Cayman the easiest place in the world to commit such crimes, all because employers and immigration officials [it seems] are not doing their due diligence when it comes to people who are given permission to work here, to make certain that they are "at least" without a known criminal background. My advise to Immigration is! Start doing a more thorough job now, where background checks are concerned because it can only get worse.
Wake up Cayman! Implement a Whistle Blowers Law that will expose the criminals and corruption, and protect those who expose them.
Correction, a back ground check including a police clearance was done on him. Levitt lived in South Africa for a year before he arrived in Cayman (which is where he produced a police clearance from) and was in Cayman for 5 years with other companies before employment with this firm. It is also interesting and perhaps CNS can confirm, the offences against the attorney general in Canada and his convictions there and in South Africa were never confirmed by the police or the FCU as they were never able to obtain evidence of this information. The firm hired a private investigator and the evidence of his convictions were introduced in an victim impact statement by the firm to the Courts. Levitt conceded to the statements made by the firm about his previous convictions in Court. There is no means of proving the Canadian convictions because of the agreement made with Levitt for the return of the stolen money and the records of his convictions in Canada are not available. The crime in Canada was similar to the crime against the firm except he stole far more from the AG in Canada. World Check now has the info which it did not before (this is a fact). His accounting credentials from SA remain current inspite of his convictions in SA for fraud. It's useful to know the information before commenting. It's also a lesson for us all.
Maybe we should stop letting in people from Canada. We have in recent times had quite a few persons who have committed some fraudulent deeds, that came here by way of Canada. As a reminder! And why don't we have, an extradition treaty with Canada?
There was a time when people coming here from Canadia were known as the most honest people in north america. Wha Happn? Had Levitt been a Caymanian someone would have been looking over his shoulder every day to make sure he was toeing the line. But a white foreigner, NO PROBLEM! The fact that this man built a house and was buying new cars etc. etc. shows laxity on the part of management within the firm, otherwise someone would have had to, have known, something fishy was going on.
I am looking forward to the months ahead when Mr. Said will come home to have his day in court. Oh Darn! He's not back yet? May be he's on cayman time. I guess we'll just have to keep reminding the authorities of the fact, that the Swiss authorities are waiting for an "official letter of request" for extradition, and the people of Cayman are eagerly awaiting his return.
I have it from official sources that Mr. Said "will" be coming back as soon as the airport is renovated, runway extended and Cayman Airways has purchased a new 777 and begun air service to Switzerland. WOW!
Why are you people so full of anger and vengence?
So many people here get a kick out of others suffering, misfortune and mistakes.
Our so called Christian community.
How about a little compassion, forgiveness, or at least some nuetrality – rather than taking pleasure in other people's suffering.
His sentence is harsh. He had every right to appeal it, as does every prisoner.
Your sympathy is misdirected.
Not sure i understand whats behind this post. The debate was whether his sentence was adequate considering his history and no doubt when he moves on, he will steal again. Every system in the world has a judicial system to deal with criminal acts. That's the vengeance we expect or what we call justice. Christianity has nothing to do with this. Should, heaven forbid, a criminal act happen to you or your children, hopefully you will rely on the justice system, and no doubt once guilt is established, particularly if there is admission of guilt, you will understand why others may choose not to be neutral, even if you choose to be nuetral to the crime.
On the other hand you could consider making US 846.000 in a world where people die from hunger also as a crime.
I agree. Who goes into business to make money?!
So glad to know his sentence was not decreased. In fact his senetnce should have been increased. I do hope he is forthrightly deported from Cayman the days he walks out of prison and I pray to God that he will not get an early release
The only negative about having him imprisoned for that length of time is tht he will be fed and housed at the expense of poor Caymanian taxpayers. He should have been sent back in shackles and chain to Robin Island in South Africa to serve his sentence.
Oh! How Christian! Forgive those that trespass against us. Don't bring God into your petty rants, be man enough to admit that these are your own angry ravings!
Should I be happy that a foreigner came to our shores and did such a huge misapprorpriation of funds?
I am a Caymanian of unquestionable integrity and highly educated andIhave been having hard to obtain a job so why should I have sympathy for a foreigner who did such a deed.
I am sure this was the same man that was employed with a prominent Banking Institution who presented his creditials/certificates that were later found to be fake and reslulted in his dismissal by his employers. Therefore anything was expected of him.
So you say. When northward is probably 80% full of Caymanians, it is so strange that people on here think all crimes are committed by furriners. Blind leading the deaf and dumb.
Look at it this way–he would have gotten less time for murder…
Uncanny, Levitt looks like he comes from the planet Sontar. Shame we can't send him back there and save ourselves $50,000 per year for the next 7 1/2 years.
Is he a white collar thief? The shirt looks more like cream to me. It is several sizes too small for him on the collar. Remember the two finger rule, sweetie.
Use him as an example! Give him extra yrs!
Throw the chair at him instead of the book+10 yrs!
He has a nerve. He steals and that has the audacity to say unfair. Serve your time yes. Your lucky it was just 7 years. Unfortunately Cayman has to feed this individual.
Another outsider that may had a history of these convictions in his country just got hired here without no background checks! Finger printing system is needed Mr.Alden!!!
You dont evenneed balls to implement finger printing! get at it now, you lazy politicians!
Such nerve! He should get 7 more years!