Police say they have made a major breakthrough in a HDC scam which has led to the arrest of at least two police officers and two other persons following an early morning exercise.
00:00Two women police officers were among four persons arrested earlier this morning for questioning what police sources believe is a major breakthrough in a HCC-related scam which allegedly defrauded several people of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past two years.
00:15Senior police officers told TV6 News that in an operation involving the Fraud Squad Special Investigations Unit and the Professional Standards Bureau that began close to 4 a.m., the police officers formerly from the Homicide Department were now working in another unit were apprehended at their homes as well as two other female suspects.
00:35A police media release later indicated that warrants were executed in the Arima, Chaguanas and San Juan districts.
00:41Sources said that the four allegedly took money from several persons promising to fast-track their HCC applications to obtain a home.
00:49The decision to apprehend the suspects came after police consulted with the DPP, Roger Gaspard, about the matter last week.
00:56Senior police officers said that among the charges the court had faced, a conspiracy to defraud, larceny by trick and other offences.
01:03The decision to move forward with the investigation was made following legal consultation with ASP Nutt and Acton Sargent Zaheer Ali of the TTPS legal unit.
01:13Contacted earlier this morning about the operation, Acton Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin confirmed it, saying that he had received a heads-up from an Assistant Commissioner of Police, under whose remit such matters fall.
01:25He said, it's an ongoing investigation and I can't speak much about it.
01:30When asked about the arrest of the two women police constables who were part of the TTPS, Benjamin responded,
01:36It is not something to feel good about, since this is not the intention of the TTPS.
01:42I feel a sense of solace, but it shows that the TTPS continues to operate with transparency and accountability.
01:50No one is above the law and must go unchecked.
Be the first to comment