MOCA raids several locations as it probes major fraud at St. Catherine Municipal Corporation

By Clinton McGregor    

 

The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) on Thursday carried out a series of targeted operations, including a raid on the offices of the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation.

 

Operations were also conducted in Kingston and Westmoreland as part of an investigation into allegations of organised crime and major fraud at the Municipal Corporation. 

 

The MOCA and Financial Investigations Division led operations were supported by the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force.

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Thursday morning, Director of Communications at MOCA, Major Basil Jarrett, said employees and associates of employees of the St. Catherine local government authority are under investigation.

 

In an update on Thursday afternoon, Major Jarrett said the investigation is nearing its final stages. 

 

"We do have members of the investigation operational team still on location as they complete their work. What I can say at this point is that even though today's operations [were] primarily aimed at executing these search warrants, we did in fact arrest one individual for breaches of the Firearms Act. I want to stress though that this arrest was not related to the ongoing investigation, but it was appropriately dealt with in accordance with the law," he noted. 

 

He also confirmed that several employees and individuals were taken from their homes Thursday morning as part of the probe.

 

"Yes, the operations started with the investigative and operational team visiting the homes and related premises for a number of individuals who were either employed or affiliated with the St. Catherine Parish Council. Subsequently, they were taken to the parish council where...the search of their workplace continued," said the MOCA Director of Communications who maintained that he could not share more details in the ongoing investigation. 

 

In the meantime, an abbreviated version of the monthly meeting of the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation was held on Thursday morning as security forces raided the local authority. 

 

MOCA is reportedly investigating allegations of misconduct at the corporation involving more than $1 billion.