THE Court of Appeal on Wednesday reserved judgement in the appeals of former bank managers Melanie Tapper and Winston McKenzie, who were five years ago convicted of defrauding a businessman of millions of dollars.

Tapper, a former general manager of the New Kingston branch of CIBC (now First Caribbean International Bank) and McKenzie, a former manager at Workers Bank (former Workers Savings and Loan Bank) were sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment on May 29, 2003.

The two were sentenced in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's Court following their conviction for defrauding Kingston businessman Bentley Rose and his company, Benros Limited, of $7 million during the early to mid-1990s.

Tapper is said to have approved the cashing of several cheques affixed with McKenzie's signature, which were drawn on Benros' name, despite the fact that Rose had not approved their encashment.

The convicts have asked the Appeal Court to quash the convictions and sentences. The two are on bail pending the outcome of the appeal.

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