Former Education Minister Ruel Reid and Ex-President of The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) Fritz Pinnock were once more handed a harsh blow after the Privy Council, Jamaica’s final appellate court rejected their appeal to have the corruption charges against them dismissed.

The ruling which was handed down last Friday comes after the UK based court ruled that the Jamaican Parish Court should decide whether the Financial Investigations Division (FID) has the authority to relay corruption charges against both men.

Furthermore, both the Full Court and the Court of Appeal had ruled that the case against FID should be made in the Parish Court.

Meanwhile, attorney for both Reid and Pinnock, Hugh Wildman alluded that his clients would press forward with a case for judicial review of the decision of Senior Parish Judge Chester Crooks that the trial in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court should proceed.

Reid, his wife Sharen, their daughter Sharelle along with Pinnock and JLP Councilor Kim Brown were slapped with corruption and fraud charges for defrauding both the Ministry of Education and the Caribbean Maritime University of $50 million.

The accused were arrested in October 2019 and was granted a bail extension on October 3. Since the ordeal gained precedence however, Reid demitted office as principal of Jamaica College in November 2021.

Additionally, the accused are slated to return to Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on January 9, 2023.