Fraud Squad set on Portmore: Missing cheques at municipal council raise eyebrows

Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

THE PORTMORE Municipal Council is the subject of an investigation by the Fraud Squad, according to minister with responsibility for local government, Robert Montague.

"There is the matter of some missing cheques, one of which was discovered after someone went to change it. The police have started their investigation," Montague told The Gleaner on Thursday, following the council's monthly meeting.

While not disclosing the amount of money, the minister said there were other irregularities.

"There is also the question of a man tendering a fictitious TRN (tax registration number) for contract that couldn't be accounted for," he said.

Montague said there was the need for greater accountability, noting that if councillors were paying attention to their leisure account this could not have happened.

The fraud was discovered after one person who had earlier encashed a cheque went back with another of a larger amount.

Meanwhile, mayor Keith Hinds said the irregularity of the cheques was discovered about two months ago.

He declined to go into further detail, saying that investigation is ongoing.

Hinds said he believed in integrity of tenure and was working with his administrative staff to bring a sense of propriety to the council's operation. "I will continue to do what the people elected me to do, which is serve Portmore effectively," Hinds said.

Meanwhile, The Gleaner understands that a St Catherine resident was arrested after being found with one of the cheques.