Zachary Harding, the former Chief Executive Officer of Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL), is now undergoing formal questioning by Jamaican authorities in connection with the island’s largest financial fraud scandal. This development starkly contrasts with his January 2023 public declaration of having “clean hands” when the scandal first emerged.
On December 27, 2025, Harding presented himself to detectives from the Financial Investigations Division (FID) and the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. According to official statements, the interrogation focuses on “reasonable suspicion of breaches” spanning multiple financial regulations including the Bank of Jamaica Act, Securities Act, Banking Services Act, and Companies Act.
The investigation intensified with coordinated dawn raids conducted by FID, C-TOC, and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) targeting former SSL directors’ premises in St. James and St. Andrew. These operations resulted in three arrests: former SSL directors Hugh Croskery and Sarah Meany, plus Dermot Meany who faces separate firearms charges.
During the 2023 interview with Observer Online, Harding had emphatically denied any knowledge of the fraudulent activities, stating: “I have nothing to hide. My heart is clear and my conscience is free.” He specifically claimed unawareness that Olympic champion Usain Bolt maintained an account with SSL during his tenure from September 2019 to June 2022.
The scandal, which initially revealed the theft of approximately US$12.7 million from Bolt’s account, has expanded to encompass nearly 200 clients with total losses approaching $4 billion Jamaican dollars. To date, only former SSL wealth advisor Jean-Ann Panton has been formally charged, with her case currently progressing through the judicial system.
Harding maintained that his resignation in June 2022 preceded the scandal’s emergence, and he had no ongoing affiliation with the company. Investigators continue forensic examination of evidence collected during recent operations while assessing potential regulatory violations.