Usain Bolt missing $12.7m in alleged fraud, lawyer says

Only $12,000 remains in the Jamaican sprinter’s investment account

Usain Bolt prepares to compete in the men’s 100m final during the athletics at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Jeff Pachoud / AFP

Usain Bolt prepares to compete during the men’s 100m final of the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 14 August 2016. Bolt won the gold medal. Yoan Valat / EPA

Usain Bolt (C) prepares to compete in the men’s 100m final during the athletics at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Jeff Pachoud / AFP

Usain Bolt (3rd L) prepares to compete in the men’s 100m final during the athletics at the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Jeff Pachoud / AFP

(L-R)Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, Ivory Coast’s Ben Youssef Meite, Canada’s Andre De Grasse, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, France’s Jimmy Vicaut, USA’s Justin Gatlin, South Africa’s Akani Simbine and USA’s Trayvon Bromell compete in the men’s 100m final at the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Jeff Pachoud / AFP

Usain Bolt (C) at the start of the men’s 100m final of the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 14 August 2016. Ettore Ferrari / EPA

Usain Bolt (2-L), Justin Gatlin (2-R), Andre de Grasse (L), Akani Simbine (R) and Jimmy Vicaut (C) in action in the men’s 100m final race of the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 14 August 2016. Dean Lewins / EPA

Usain Bolt (C) competes in the men’s 100m Final during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Damien Meyer / AFP

eUsain Bolt (C) reacts after winning the men’s 100m final of the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 14 August 2016. Srdjan Suki / EPA

Usain Bolt (R) crosses the finish line ahead of Justin Gatlin (3rd down) to win the men’s 100m final during the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. John MacDougall / AFP

Usain Bolt (C) crosses the finish line in the men’s 100m final during the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Fabrice Coffrini / AFP

Usain Bolt crosses the finish line of the men’s 100m final ahead of silver medallist Justin Gatlin during the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Fabrice Coffrini / AFP

Usain Bolt (2ndL) crosses the finish line to win the men’s 100m final during the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Olivier Morin / AFP

Usain Bolt wins the men’s 100m final on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Paul Gilham / Getty Images

Usain Bolt celebrates winning the gold medal in the men’s 100m final during the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters

Usain Bolt celebrates after he won the men’s 100m final during the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP

Usain Bolt celebrates winning the gold medal from the men’s 100m final during the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters

An overview shows Usain Bolt posing for a picture after winning the men’s 100m final at the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Antonin Thuillier / AFP

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt claps as he celebrates after he won the men’s 100m final during the Rio 2016 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. Jewel Samad / AFP

A lawyer for Usain Bolt, one of the world's greatest sprinters, said on Wednesday that more than $12.7 million was missing from his account with Stocks & Securities Limited (SSL), a private investment company in Jamaica.

Bolt had $12.8 million in the account, which was part of his retirement savings, but it now reflects a balance of only $12,000, the lawyer said, according to a copy of a letter sent to SSL that was provided to AP.

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“If this is correct, and we are hoping it is not, then a serious act of fraud, larceny or a combination of both have been committed against our client,” Bolt’s lawyer said in the letter, which also demanded that the money be returned.

They threatened civil and criminal action if the money is not returned within 10 days.

The Jamaican sprinter, 36, has a net worth of $90 million, according to wealth-tracking platform Celebrity Net Worth.

At his peak, Bolt was one of the highest-paid athletes in the world after winning eight Olympic gold medals, the website said.

He also claimed 11 world titles and set world records in the 100-metre and 200-metre sprint events.

Bolt, who retired in 2017, is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world and earned $20 million to $30 million a year in the years leading up to the Olympics, Celebrity Net Worth said.

On its website, SSL asked clients to direct all urgent queries to Jamaica’s Financial Services Commission, which is investigating the company.

“We understand that clients are anxious to receive more information and assure you that we are closely monitoring the matter throughout all the required steps and will alert our clients of the resolution as soon as that information is available,” SSL said.

On January 12, the FSC said it was aware of allegations of fraud at the company. The regulator gave orders to allow SSL to operate under “enhanced oversight”.

The FSC also appointed a special auditor to look into fraud allegations against SSL on Monday.

However, on Tuesday, the FSC said it was assuming temporary management of SSL, which will be allowed to continue operating with approval from the government for any transactions.