Shaw

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Fraud Squad on Monday arrested an employee of the the Inland Revenue Department on several counts, including fraud and uttering forged documents.

The employee has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud, one count of uttering forged documents and one count of obtaining money by means of forged documents.

He has been remanded and is scheduled to attend court today.

The Revenue Protection Division (RPD), which falls under the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, provided the information to the police.

One of the mandates of the RPD is to identify, investigate and eliminate fraud and corruption within public service.

Finance Minister Audley Shaw confirmed the fraud yesterday during the Private Sector of Jamaica (PSOJ) Chairman's Forum at The Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, St James, saying the activities seemed to have been taking place since 2004.

"I just came back from Turkey and saw a letter on my desk from the auditor general about someone in my ministry who generates fictitious bills, gets them approved and signs off on the approvals, collects and lodges the cheque. $21 million has been identified in that one so far," Shaw told members of the business community attending the forum.

sheena.gayle@gleanerjm.com