photo courtesy of Olympics.com
Usain Bolt, an Olympian Jamaican sprinter, has opened up about his confusion and anger following becoming the victim of a high-profile fraud case.
Bolt said on January 27 that he lost $12.7 million after entering business with a private investment firm that’s become the subject of investigation for an ongoing fraud scheme. According to the Associated Press, Bolt has fired his business manager following the incident.
Despite all the money loss and the non-amicable split between the olympian and his manager, Bolt assures the public that he’s not broke.
“I’m not broke, but it’s definitely put a damper on me. It was for my future. Everybody knows I have three kids. I’m still looking out for my parents, and I still want to live very well.” He continued to talk about the financial crime case he found himself in the midst of. He said, “[You should] watch for the expected and the unexpected. There is nothing to say at this stage, given what is happening. We have met with persons, and we are dealing with certain matters.”
Usain Bolt’s legal revealed that his bank account with Kingston-based Stocks and Securities Limited “dwindled from nearly $12.8 million to some $12,000,”. They said they gave the company an ultimatum: either return the money or Bolt, and his team would pursue legal action, as previously reported by News Onyx.
The company’s fraudulent actions have affected, outside of the Olympic athlete’s account, that of government-sponsored agencies and even elderly people.
Bolt said, “It’s always a sad situation. Definitely disappointed. Everybody’s confused. … I’m as confused as the public…No matter what’s going on right now, Jamaica is my country. That will never change.”
“I’m just trying to focus on my family and trying not to think too much about it because it’s a difficult situation,” He promised, “The government will not socialize any debt, and we will not socialize the failure of our banks.”
As of now, Jamaican authorities are investigating the widescale fraud and have requested assistance from the FBI. The total amount of money lost and the number of victims affected haven’t been revealed.