Officer, businessman plead guilty to money laundering charges

A police officer and businessman have admitted to money laundering offences they committed over a 10-year span.

Appearing before Madam Justice Laurie-Ann Smith Bovell in the No. 4 Supreme Court on Thursday, Constable Undwye Jean-Baptiste, 38, of No. 16 West Road Warrens, St Michael, and Hasan Kareem Catlyn, 39, of Bridge Road, St Michael, admitted to conspiring with each other to launder funds that were the proceeds of crime.

Catlyn was charged that on July 2, 2013, he engaged in money laundering in that he had in his possession $9 498 Barbados currency and $40 US currency being the proceeds of crime; that on October 24, 2013, he engaged in money laundering in that he had in his possession $647 Barbados currency being the proceeds of crime; and that between December 31, 2012, and October 18, 2013, he engaged in money laundering in that he engaged in transactions involving money totalling $91 452 Barbados currency being the proceeds of crime.

Jean-Baptiste was charged that between August 22, 2011, and July 30, 2012, he counselled Catlyn to commit the offence of money laundering and that between those same dates, he engaged in money laundering in that he received money totalling $9 200, being the proceeds of crime.

Both men were charged that between January 1, 2007 and December 31,  2017, they together conspired to commit the offence of money laundering.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC is representing the state in the matter, while Jean-Baptiste and Catlyn are represented by Senior Counsels Andrew Pilgrim and Arthur Holder, respectively.

The two are scheduled to return to court on January 31, 2024.