The Corruption Situation in T&T.

[Bourbon]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Attorney-removed-from-judges-team-296339601.html

Attorney removed from judge’s team’
Allegedly caught copying sensitive documents...

By by denyse renne denyse.renne@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Mar 14, 2015 at 9:02 PM ECT
Story Updated: Mar 14, 2015 at 9:02 PM ECT
Former judicial support officer (JSO) Dayadai Asha Harripaul has refused to comment on allegations that she was removed from the team of a sitting judge after being caught photocopying sensitive court documents without approval.

The Sunday Express approached Harripaul, now an attorney, last Wednesday at the San Fernando High Court for a response to the allegation.

Based on information received from top judicial sources and from interviews conducted, the Sunday Express asked Harripaul to confirm or deny that a request was made by a judge to have her removed from his team where she served as JSO in 2012.

Harripaul continued walking and refused to answer.

Asked about the alleged photocopying of sensitive court documents without permission and why this was done, Harripaul again refused to say anything.

The Sunday Express persisted in getting a response but Harripaul refused to say anything.

Harripaul, the Sunday Express understands, was called to the Bar last year and resigned her JSO position.

Sources say shortly after the alleged photocopying incident, the judge complained to Harripaul’s immediate supervisor and she was immediately removed from the team and placed on the team of another judge.

However, her duties were scaled down.

This incident, judicial sources say, occurred in 2012.

Prior to this incident, Harripaul had submitted a report to court officials regarding documents being taken by her and handed to attorney Gerald Ramdeen in 2010.

Efforts to contact the judge were unsuccessful, as the Sunday Express was told he was unavailable.

Sources further say investigators probing the 2010 removal of files from the Supreme Court are aware of this incident and have compiled a list of individuals to be interviewed.

Some of the individuals include former registrar of the supreme court Evelyn Ann Petersen who, the Sunday Express understands, is currently residing in Canada.

Petersen had submitted a statement to police in 2011, expressing concern over the removal of the documents from the High Court and being given to Ramdeen.

Section manager and second deputy marshal (clerk to judges) Maureen Matthews Ochoa, Sandra Mohan Pariag, the judge and former colleagues of Harripaul and the human resources manager at the time are also expected to be interviewed by police.

Senior judicial sources who are aware of the 2012 incident, have also raised concerns as to why no disciplinary action was taken by the Judiciary, since this was the second incident where Harripaul’s conduct was called into question.

On February 13, Chief Justice Ivor Archie issued a statement saying “the Judiciary is aware of comments in the media concerning the discovery in October 2010 of court documents at the offices of an attorney-at-law. The matter was referred to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) for investigation in November 2010.

“A report from the TTPS on said investigation was submitted to the Judiciary in May 2011. The report indicated that after the interview of various individuals, no further police action in the matter was found to be warranted.

“No disciplinary action was taken by the Judiciary against the officer involved in the incident and she has since left the organisation.”

Archie’s statement came following comments from the police that the 2010 incident was investigated and no wrongdoing was found.

The police, in their report, had also indicated that attorney Mark Seepersad, who brought the discovery of the confidential court documents to the attention of Petersen, was interviewed. It is a claim which Seepersad has denied.

Apart from this, senior police officers are also questioning the reason(s) behind the move to have Special Branch detective Sgt Allister Guevarro conduct a criminal investigation into the 2010 incident.

Guevarro was appointed by his seniors to investigate the circumstances surrounding the confidential files being found on the premises of the Stone Street law chambers which was once shared by Ramdeen and Seepersad.

Sources say it is not the norm to have Special Branch officers conduct criminal probes, since such officers are used for bodyguard services and intelligence gathering.

“That investigation, ought to have been conducted by either the Fraud Squad or Anti-Corruption Bureau,” the source said.

Two weeks ago following a Sunday Express expose which questioned the handling of the 2010 investigation, acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams mandated Assistant Commissioner of Police Simon Lendor to re-open the case.

In 2010, Seepersad reported to Petersen that he and Ramdeen shared law chambers at Unit 1, 27 Stone Street, Port of Spain, when he decided to dissolve the partnership.

Seepersad, in his report to Petersen, said on November 1, 2010, while packing the remaining documents left behind by Ramdeen, he found a box which contained a number of documents and personal effects belonging to the court.

“On inspection, I found a number of documents which, to my mind, appeared to be documents of the High Court and, in particular, the registrar’s chambers,” he wrote.

Seepersad said he also found “a hard-covered notebook which was labelled ‘File Movement Book’, belonging to Justice Lennox Deyalsingh (now retired), and “I formed the view that these documents were the property of the High Court and as such should be in the custody of the registrar of the Supreme Court.”

In his statement to Petersen, Seepersad named Harripaul as being a frequent visitor to the chambers he once shared with Ramdeen.

Harripaul and Ramdeen were interviewed by police.

Ramdeen in an interview with the Sunday Express said though he went to the interview voluntarily, he was never questioned about the court documents.

Harripaul in her interview with the police, admitted to taking the documents and giving them to Ramdeen for safe keeping, since she was not allocated a personal desk at the High Court to store her belongings.

[Flex]

MILLION$ MI$$ING
By Andre Bagoo (Newsday).

MULTI-million-dollar discrepancies have been identified in the books of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) for the years 2003 to 2008, according to long-awaited reports done by the Auditor General this year which were submitted to the Parliament last week

.Sealed reports, tabled in the Senate on Tuesday and then in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, state that in addition to there being mis-matches, weaknesses continue to exist in the internal control system of the intelligence agency.

The SSA was established by an act of Parliament on October 4, 1995, under the PNM. Under the Strategic Services Agency Act, which was later amended in 1997, the main functions of the agency are to: “act as an office for centralising information that could facilitate the detection and prevention of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs.”

Crucially, the act stipulates that the agency is to “provide intelligence and analytical support for the appropriate operational and intelligence arms of the appropriate services”. The SSA is also to “provide a nucleus of specialist intelligence personnel who are able to advise and assist investigating officers concerning operational priorities and deployment of resources.”

Employees of the SSA must take an oath of secrecy and the agency is given power to “exercise disciplinary control over” staff. Section 10 of the act stipulates that the accounts of the agency are to be audited annually by the Auditor General, forwarded to the Minister of National Security (under whose ministry the SSA falls) and laid in Parliament.

Audits for the years 2003 to 2008 had been outstanding for years, until finally being tabled in Parliament last week. Though tabled, the Office of the Auditor General attached seals to the reports, as has become the practice in relation to these reports.

Nonetheless, the reports, seen by Sunday Newsday, state that for each of the years 2003 to 2008 respectively, “weaknesses continue to exist in the internal control system. These were drawn to the attention of the Agency.”

For the year 2007, there was an un-reconciled difference of $2.5 million in relation to a cash in bank figure of $12.3 million. The general ledger figure for the same item also appeared off by $1.6 million in the balance sheet.

“Several errors were noted in the cash flow statement,” the Acting Auditor General Majeed Ali said. The auditor, therefore, qualified his audit report.

In the year ended September 2007, training expenses rose from $139, 481 to $6.8 million. The total government subvention for that year grew from $10.6 million the year prior to $18.8 million, almost a doubling of the agency’s funding. The expenses for computer and related accessories was $4.1 million, up from $24,766.87. A figure of $1 million was recorded as due from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

For the year 2008, cash in bank was again problematic, with an un-reconciled difference of about $400,000 in the reconciliation statement and a difference of $1.9 million in the balance sheet. Fixed assets were also understated, and a difference of $300,000 in accruals could not be explained. The accounts were again qualified. Subvention rose to $20 million in that year and an item for “Special Short-Term Projects” appeared at a cost of $6.6 million.

Additionally, for the year 2005, the figure of $601,160.66 representing fixed assets was understated by $273,774.12 as a result of prior year errors. As a result, Acting Auditor General Majeed Ali qualified the report for this year as well. A similar problem occurred in the books for 2006, with the same item being understated by $279,574.01 and therefore wrongly appearing in the books as $838,289.09.

An expense item of $1.5 million appeared in the books for 2006, in relation to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) set up to implement counter-measures in relation to money-laundering.

In 2010, Sunday Newsday reported that over a span of two decades, successive Auditors General have questioned weaknesses in internal controls at the State agency which was identified as one body to be subsumed under new surveillance arrangements in the wake of the 2010 disclosures on the extent of State spying on citizens.

[Sando prince]

Rowley: Party will not tolerate corruption

By By Gyasi Gonzales

POLITICAL Leader of the People’s National Movement Dr Keith Rowley told candidates yesterday that the party will not tolerate corruption.

“Every political office in the political arena is circumscribed by a sell-by date and the term of office for a Member of Parliament is five years if the Government lasts five years, because if you come into (politics) thinking you will last the rest of your life it means you expect to be selected over and over.”

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/-Rowley-Party-will-not-tolerate-corruption-300563111.html

[Flex]

GLENN BROKE RULES
Report details how Ramadharsingh breached Customs but ex-minister insists he did no wrong
By Denyse Renne (Express).

A four-page report detailing how former minister of the people and social development Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh and his wife Arlene breached Customs and Excise is now in the hands of Head of Protocol Joan Brammer.
The report was written by facilitation officers Cherisse Blandin and Rae-Ann Alphonse of the Airports Authority of T&T (AATT) and submitted on April 9 to Brammer shortly after the breach by the Ramadharsinghs.
The report, which has been obtained by the Express, states that Ramadharsingh and his wife Arlene breached Customs regulations by not being cleared by Customs and Excise upon their arrival at Piarco International Airport on April 9.
The couple had returned from a swim meet in St Kitts, in which Ramadharsingh had participated.
The Express yesterday reported exclusively that Customs and Excise had launched a probe into the incident.
Efforts to contact Brammer were unsuccessful.
Ramadharsingh who was contacted by the Express last Wednesday denied he and his wife were not cleared by Customs.
In a text to the Express last Wednesday, Ramadharsingh stated:
“Further to your comment earlier that I did not pass through Customs, I wish to state that there is absolutely no truth to this statement at all. You can contact the Customs and Excise Division where you will find documentary evidence of the declaration I made to the Customs on Thursday 9th April 2015.
“Kind regards.”

Following publication of the story yesterday, Ramadharsingh issued the following media release:
“I wish to state for the records that in the past, both as a Minister of Government and as an MP, I have always followed all the relevant protocols on arrival and departure at the airport, in immigration, at customs and excise, and have always displayed respect for those who provide me with the laid down procedure through the VIP Lounge. It has never been, is not now, and will never be in the future my intention to disregard those systems. To say otherwise, as suggested in the article, is totally false and misleading.
“I wish to state categorically my declaration form was given to the Customs and Excise Division for me and my family and they allowed me to leave with my luggage. The report contained in the Express is totally untrue”.

The four-page report, however, contradicts Ramadharsingh’s recollection of the events.
Efforts to contact Ramadharsingh yesterday were unsuccessful.
The report states that on April 9, 2015, “Mr Ramadharsingh and Arlene Maharaj arrived on Liat LI 523 at 10.25 pm.
“They were met in the diplomatic line in Immigration Hall by a Facilitation Officer from the Diplomatic Reception Lounge, after which they were escorted to the VIP room to meet his welcoming party.
“The group indicated they wished to make a presentation to Mr Ramadharsingh and take pictures . They were given a few moments in the VIP room to do so. The officer retained Ramadharsingh’s diplomatic passport and Customs Declaration form, while Arlene kept hers.
“About ten minutes after, the officer returned to the VIP area and found Mr Glenn, his wife and welcoming party had vacated the room, without informing personnel present in the lounge.
“After questioning the security officer posted outside the lounge, it was discovered the group left five minutes before.
“A search was made in the public areas, both inside and outside the Atrium, in addition to contacting the protocol and facilitation co-ordinator at her home to request a telephone number to reach Mr Ramadharsingh; efforts to contact the others were unsuccessful”.
The report added, “Further searches to the Atrium led to the observation of two persons who were part of the welcoming party. Radha Salick and another female.
“Ms Salick had in her possession the passport and declaration of Ms Maharaj. She told authorities both had already left the airport and she was instructed by Mr Ramadharsingh to hand in Ms Maharaj’s declaration form and to retrieve their checked luggage.
“After being told by the Facilitation Officers that the proper procedure wasn’t adhered to and the passengers ought not to have left without clearing Customs, Ms Salick indicated Mr Ramadharsingh was tired and wished to leave and may not have been aware of the procedures”.
“The declaration form and passport were taken from Ms Salick and together with Mr Ramadharsingh’s, taken to the Customs Collector, Ms Joseph, who asked for the passengers.
“After being told by the facilitation officers the location was unknown, Ms Joseph became annoyed, collected the declaration forms and returned the passport .
“She indicated she wished to see Ms Salick about collecting the checked baggage and Ms Salick was escorted into Customs Hall by the Facilitation Officer.
“After telling Ms Salick of the breaches committed by Mr Ramadharsingh and Ms Maharaj, Ms Joseph asked to speak with Mr Ramadharsingh to obtain his permission to release the luggage to Ms Salick.
“After speaking with Mr Ramadharsingh on the phone and informing him of the infringement of Customs regulations, Ms Joseph made arrangements for the luggage to be handed over to Ms Salick, who was then allowed to leave Customs Hall”.
The Express, following information received on the breach, had contacted AATT chairman Jason Julien last Thursday afternoon.
Julien, during a brief interview had said: “I was briefed only when you enquired. I asked of management what happened and managements provided me with a verbal report about the incident on what transpired.”
Julien was also asked whether Ramadharsingh had been cleared by Customs and he said, “Based on the report I received, it appears that he did not and it appears from the report he would have left the airport without going through Customs.”
Last year, police were also investigating a report of disorderly behaviour by Ramadharsingh on board a domestic flight from Tobago to Trinidad on March 16.
In that incident, Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) flight attendant Ronelle Laidlow, 25, had filed a complaint that the former minister’s hand touched her breast when he reached for her ID badge, which was pinned to her blouse, and threatened to have her fired.
Two official reports were made by the flight attendant—to the security department of the AATT and the Piarco police sub-station.
Ramadharsingh subsequently apologised for his behaviour , saying he was suffering from “severe fatigue” but denied touching Laidlow or threatened to have her fired.
He was subsequently fired by the Prime Minister on March 25.

EMBARKATION AND DISEMBARKATION OF PASSENGERS AND OTHER PERSONS
Chapter 78.01

Section 97
Every person disembarking from any aircraft or ship which has arrived in Trinidad and Tobago and is not alongside any jetty,quay or wharf, shall proceed in a licensed drogher or ship’s boat or a drogher’s boat licensed as such, or a boat belonging to the State or a licensed motor launch, or a boat propelled by oars and licensed to carry passengers under the Harbours Act, by the most direct route to the place prescribed for the landing of baggage, or such other place as the Comptroller may in any special circumstances permit, and there disembark and proceed to the place appointed for the examination of baggage, or to such other place as the proper Officer may direct and there remain until he has received the permission of the proper Officer to leave the Customs area.

Section 98
Except as provided in regulation 97, every person disembarking from an aircraft or ship, which has arrived in Trinidad and Tobago shall proceed forthwith to the place appointed for the examination of baggage or to such other place as the proper Officer may direct and there remain until he has received the permission of the proper Officer to leave the Customs area.

Section 99
The provision of regulations 97 and 98 shall apply to any person who has gone on board or alongside any aircraft or ship which has arrived in Trinidad and Tobago and who returns on shore.

[Sando prince]

Yuille-Williams cleared

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-04-18/yuille-williams-cleared

The Sunday Guardian also understands that Yuille-Williams is expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing in the allegation that she and the administrators of the Scholarship Fund were guilty of misconduct and misbehaviour in public office.

Williams’s case was referred to the DPP in 2013 after a forensic report unearthed several anomalies in the award of scholarships under Williams.

Some of the issues highlighted were that some 225 people with no filed applications received funding of just under $11 million ($10,997,552) in aggregate over the review period; that submitted files of 1,295 applicants contained no documentation that provided any evidence of financial need or untoward socio-economic circumstances; and that 420 of the applicants who provided no evidence of financial need in their applications received funding amounting to $20.1 million in aggregate over the review period.

Even if any of the former ministers are found to be in breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act, there is no sanction. There must be evidence of at least misbehaviour in public office for any charges to be laid against alleged wrongdoers.

The last summary report published by the Integrity Commission lists at least eight investigations that have been forwarded to the DPP, the majority of which are ready to be closed or returned for further investigations.

One such case, involving allegations against former Udecott chairman Calder Hart, has already been thrown out by the DPP on the grounds that it is not a criminal matter. Hart’s matter is currently before the civil courts, as the Government is seeking to recover some $100 million from Hart.

The Sunday Guardian understands that Hart has retained local legal representation and the matter is moving through the judicial system.

[Flex]

$M RENTALS
ANDRE BAG00 (Newsday).
Sunday, May 17 2015

OVER TWO successive Government administrations, the State has paid out millions for buildings that remained unoccupied, according to the findings of auditors charged with the responsibility of examining public books.

A Sunday Newsday review of official reports into the public accounts, produced by two successive Auditors General and covering the period 2007 to 2014, has found that the State has repeatedly flouted financial rules governing how public money should be spent in relation to property.

The latest report from the Auditor General’s Department for the year 2014 discloses at least five instances where money - in one case $26 million - was paid for unoccupied premises.

Additionally, the Report of Auditor General Majeed Ali, tabled in Parliament last week, further discloses massive expenditure incurred over the years since 2005 ostensibly in relation to the restoration of heritage buildings. The buildings remain empty and in a state of decay.

In relation to the Elections and Boundaries Commission, Auditor General Ali finds the breach of financial rules in relation to one empty property.

“Additional premises were rented from 10th May, 2013 at a cost of $73,025 per month for one Registration Area,” Ali states. “However, these premises remained unoccupied, reportedly waiting to be outfitted. A total rental of $998,793.54 was paid for the unoccupied premises at the time of the audit visit in June 2014. This contravenes Financial Regulation 34, which places the responsibility on the Accounting Officer to eliminate non-essential services and to use public funds to the best advantage. Rent on the existing occupied premises continued at a cost of $8,500 per month.”

In relation to the Personnel Department, Ali states a total rent of $26 million was paid for an unoccupied premises.

“Total rent of $26,694,504.19 for the period 10th December, 2012 to 30th September, 2014 was paid to one landlord for unoccupied premises,” the Auditor General states. “This contravenes Financial Regulation 34 which places the responsibility on the Accounting Officer to eliminate non-essential services and to use public funds to the best advantage.”

The Auditor General’s Report into the public accounts for 2014 also found similar problems at Government ministries.

At the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ali notes, “Cabinet in 2009 agreed to the lease/rental of office space in a building located in Port-of-Spain to accommodate the Ministry of Local Government. Approvals were later seen for the outfitting of the building. However, the building reportedly remained unoccupied from 1st December, 2009. Information received revealed that the lease was transferred to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development with effect from 1st August, 2014. Monthly rental of $865,949.42 was being paid for the unoccupied premises as at 30th September, 2014.”

At the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism, a similar instance is detailed.

“A total of $847,504 relating to rent and electricity was paid to one landlord for unoccupied premises for the period October 2013 to May 2014. This contravenes Financial Regulation 34,” Ali states.

Moving on to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Auditor discloses another instance of waste, this time at Tobago.

“Rental of a building and car park spaces for the Tobago office of the Green Fund Executing Unit was paid at $16,000 per month since December 2011,” Ali states. “The Building however remained unoccupied. The total paid from inception to April 2014 was $464,000 This contravenes Financial Regulation 34.”

The Auditor’s Report also details how the State - since 2005 - has pumped millions into seemingly never-ending restoration works of heritage buildings.

Ali states expenditure on restoration of Stollmeyer’s Castle - part of the scenic Magnificent Seven around the Queen’s Park Savannah - has totalled $73.4 million, over the years 2005 to 2014. Expenditure on restoration of neighboring Whitehall, over 2009 to 2014, has totalled $6.4 million.

“As reported in the previous year, the building continues to be bird-infested and deteriorating,” Ali states. “Antique furniture and fittings are also not being adequately secured and protected. The current location of items of furniture, equipment, paintings etc. which had been on the premises before the start of the project could not be ascertained. The building and surroundings were also not being properly maintained although a service provider had been retained for this purpose.”

But the problem of the State spending millions on empty buildings also appears in the reports of the previous Auditor General Sharman Ottley.

In her report for the year 2007, under the PNM, Ottley details another instance involving the Elections and Boundaries Commission.

“Six cheques dated 2006 September 29, totalling $1.6 million, were seen on hand at the time of audit,” she states. “The narration on three cheques totalling $231,000 was, ‘Services rendered for the construction of the Siparia Office’. The narration on the other three cheques totaling $1.4 million was, ‘Payment for services rendered re: construction of Arima Office.’”

Yet, “signed contracts in respect of the above were not produced, neither was evidence of an award by the Central Tenders Board seen in respect of the amount of $1.4 million. Further, there was no evidence of any work done at either of the offices during site visits paid by audit officers in 2007 October.”

In her report for 2008, Ottley discloses a pricey rental paid by the Ministry of Information.

“It was seen that the ministry paid a monthly rent of $138,000 for a property in Port-of-Spain during the period 2007 December 18, 2008 September 30,” Ottley states. “However, there was no evidence that this property was occupied during the aforementioned period.”

In her report for 2011, Ottley discloses a similar instance in relation to the Ministry of Local Government.

“In 2009 December, the Ministry of Local Government entered into an agreement to lease office space and car park spaces and for security services at a particular location,” the then Auditor General states. “To date, these premises have not been occupied. Expenditure for the financial year totalled $9,887,700.00 and since the inception of the lease, the amount paid to 2011 September 30 was $17,453,544.78.”

Ottley’s report for 2012 also took a look at unoccupied property at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“One property which has been unoccupied since March, 2009 was observed to be maintained at an average monthly cost of approximately $22,715,” Ottley states. “Expenditure from March, 2009 to September, 2012 on this property totalled approximately $976,745.”

[asylumseeker]

Letter to the editor: Have we turned the corner?
(Trinidad Express)

What interests me most about Jack Warner's indictment is the efficiency of the US Justice Department in bringing the case to a point where Jack has to answer, but this is in sharp contrast to our own judicial system which, from my own memory, can hardly boast of a single case of similar repute where such has happened.

With all the talk about Calder Hart (former executive chairman of the Urban Development Corporation), he is yet to be called to answer as much as the principals of a major credit union, also from that bygone era. In this era, there are so many cases, as with the latter two, still in abeyance:

1. The insider trading case involving officials from a major bank and, again with the same bank, the illegal transfer of $60 million

2. The Soldado affair, with allegations of illegal payments and the proven culpabi­lity of the same company, re the damaging environmental spill of a year ago

3. The excessive payments in fees to junior officers by the principal of a State financial institution

4. The recently unearthed car racket making the headlines

5. The allegations of huge Government contracts and kick-backs

6. The falsifying of qualifications, the seriousness of which is reflected in the indictment in Pakistan of the executive responsible for something similar

7. The unsolved murder of a prominent attorney.

And I can go on and on and on, but the point is clear.

Is it pervasive incompetence, a lack of will, the absence of motivation you see in the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) or the British Security Service (MI5), that professionalism in wanting to get the job done because it's what you do and you take pride in it? The latter has to with character but that word seems a misnomer in this country, for character has little place in a culture where serving the self through kick-backs and opportunities for self-advancement, especially through political interference, are the more powerful incentives.

Does the premier investigative institution in this country contain situations where the latter exists and, if so, does this help to explain the situation of so many unsolved cases? Is there, by extension, a sense that to do your job is to court disaster, for you would be treading on the corns of people who have the power and influence to hurt you, so you just let it be? The latter is the death of professionalism and when it becomes almost cultural, to the point of being endemic, where are we headed?

But who knows, this latest development may just be the beginning of setting in motion of the idea the corrupt must be made to answer and, in this country, there is an unending list of candidates.

Errol Benjamin
via e-mail

[Bourbon]

<font color="Blue">Thousands of US dollars missing from Children’s Life Fund
</font>
    Published on Jul 4, 2015, 9:50 pm AST
    Updated on Jul 4, 2015, 9:51 pm AST
    By Mark Bassant
    CCN Senior Multimedia Investigative Journalist

THOUSANDS of United States dollars have been diverted from the Children's Life Fund Authority (CLFA) bank account, the Authority's former chief executive has alleged.

The well-intentioned fund, a 2011 initiative Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar endorsed by placing part of her monthly salary into it, was designed to cater to sick children who needed life-saving medical procedures.

But a dossier of documents obtained by the Express alleges that money intended for parents accompanying their sick children abroad for surgery, was never received by the parents.
Mark Bassant investigates: Life Fund Scandal - Stealing from children

Over the past two years at least, some of the money promised to the parents of sick children to assist with transport costs remain unaccounted for, with even the current board clueless about the missing money.

Then CEO of the CLFA Genevieve Madoo, who started the job in March 2014, wrote a letter on May 7, 2014 to Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan about an “...urgent matter involving fraudulent and dangerous activity in respect to the handling of money disbursed for meal allowances and transport at the Children's Life Fund Authority”.

Madoo alleged that a former employee had obtained close to US$7,700 (some TT$50,000) by duping parents into signing receipts for money they were supposed to receive for day-to-day expenses when they travelled with their children for operations in Colombia, Argentina and the United States.

The former employee was suspended and never returned to work.

In attempting to verify if the money was obtained by at least 14 parents at that time, Madoo met with several parents in May 2014.

None recalled obtaining the money, although money was deducted from the CLFA bank account, she explained in her letter to Dr Khan.

As a follow-up to her findings almost a week later, Madoo wrote an official police report to Inspector Romany of the Fraud Squad to report allegations of “fraud and embezzlement” as it pertained to an employee.

Among the parents were Anton Drayton, Nicole Roberts, Catherine Fahey-Anderson, Abdul Mohammed, Giselle Ramlochan, Al Razi Mohammed, Cindy Bridgelal, Sade Ifill, Olivia Galera, Anita Gosine, Tammu Pope, Laura Ramsawak, Endranie Doorgah-Swan and Dilana Peters.

The report stated: “In some cases, the parents have claimed that the signature on the receipt is not their own. In most cases, the parents claim that the signature is theirs but have no clue as to how it appeared on the cash receipt as they had never seen the receipt. There are two cases where parents have said they were given blank pages to sign and told that these are for travel tickets. When they were presented with the cash receipts they said these appear similar to the blank pages that were signed.”

The alleged period of activity, Madoo stated, occurred between September 2013 and April 2014.

The Express obtained at least 14 written testimonials of parents, which the then CEO had handed over not only to the police but to Health Minister Khan in which they all denied receiving any money for their meals and transport.

Madoo had hoped that some follow-up action would have been initiated.

But one year later, the police have been silent on the ongoing investigation, with the Health Minister, in an Express newspaper report on June 20, even denying there was any corruption in the Life Fund last month, .

The Express had originally sent several questions to Prime Minister Persad-Bissesar on Wednesday since the dismissed CEO wrote to her in May.

But Khan contacted the Express early Thursday morning indicating that the Prime Minister had asked him to deal with the questions.

“When I saw it I indicated to Ms Madoo that this is a serious problem,” said Khan.

He said the matter was now in the hands of the police and they were looking into the matter, but they have not reached out to him since the report was made last year.

Outside the remit of the police, did the Children's Life Fund Authority seek any other advice?

Interim chairman of the board Dr Colin Furlonge who was also present during the interview said, “Any investigation that we would do, would actually duplicate what the police were responsible for doing, so we left it in the hands of the police.”

But the Express obtained a private and confidential legal document showing that attorney Rajiv Persad (now a temporary High Court judge and member of the Integrity Commission) indicated that the CLFA sought his advice on issues surrounding the money and the employee and if disciplinary action could be justified.

Persad's advice in his ten-page document to the board stated: “...On numerous occasions persons who were receiving funding from the Authority for medical care for their children were not informed and never received monies for meal allowances in circumstances where the records of the Authority plainly suggest that these persons received such monies for the meal allowances. There is also material to suggest that monies where withdrawn from the bank and given to officials of the Authority. The simple point remains that these monies taken from the fund of the Authority ostensibly for the assistance of family members of patients never found its way to these persons who were entitled to these monies.”

When contacted, Madoo said she could not comment since she was pursuing legal action in relation to her dismissal as CEO.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150704 ... -life-fund

[Socapro]

Everything single thing that this Pee Pee/UNC government does is based upon creating opportunities to steal more T&T taxpayers’ money and to continue enriching themselves and their party financers.

[Flex]

'Corruption busters' face $m bill
Following collapse of case against former UTT president, directors...
By Denyse Renne (Express).

THEY were touted as the corruption-buster team and tasked with recovering $2 billion in “taxpayers' dollars” following allegations of corruption at State enterprises.

More than $45 million was spent on retaining their services for investigating State boards, a figure which excludes court appearances to date.

Questions are now being asked by attorneys who sought the interest of the clients who were hauled before the courts for the past two years whether due diligence was done by attorneys Vincent Nelson QC, Gerald Ramdeen and Varun Dabideen, in advi­sing the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) that there was a case to be answered by the former board when evidence showed otherwise.

And because of the collapse of UTT's case, it is expected “wasted costs” applications will be made to the courts and, if successful, Nelson, Ramdeen and Dabideen would be ordered to pay the costs incurred from their own pockets as opposed to taxpayers footing an already exorbitant bill.

Former UTT directors Scott Hilton-Clarke and Errol Pilgrim have already indicated they will pursue this route, having spent money on retaining legal representation for the civil suit.

Sources told the Sunday Express, four senior attorneys were approached by a then senior Government official to provide their services in several civil cases, including UTT, but after looking at the contents of the briefs realised there was no case to answer and declined to be part of the proceedings.

Last Wednesday the multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed by UTT, on the advice of Ramdeen and Dabideen, against its former president, Prof Ken Julien, and five other former directors—Dr Rene Monteil, Giselle Marfleet, Hilton-Clarke, Ravindra Nath Maharaj and Pilgrim—collapsed after the Office of the AG filed notice of discontinuance at the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain.

Marfleet, through her attor­ney, Deborah Peake SC, had struck a deal with the Office of the AG before the commencement of the trial. The terms and conditions for this deal were not made available to the court.

The former directors' legal team included Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes and John Jeremie, and attorneys Larry Lalla, Kerwyn Garcia, Stuart Young and Ravi Heffes-Doon.

Based on the legal advice given, UTT was seeking to recover more than $11.4 million it claimed it lost after the defendants' alleged breach of fiduciary duty and their failure to exercise due diligence.

This alleged failure came in the form of the subleasing of the university's Aripo guest house with Consolidated Services Ltd, for a five-year renewable lease at a monthly rental of $50,000, as well as accommodating Rev Juliana Pena, the spiritual adviser to former prime minister Patrick Manning.

The former board members are in the process of suing the State for damages.

Contacted for a comment on Thursday, AG Garvin Nicholas said: “You would recall when I took office, I did say I would review the cases that fell under my purview and I have been looking at them.

“And based so far on the evidence that has been presented to me, I'm comfortable with the other matters. The evidence that was presented in the UTT case, where a witness statement was concerned, actually changed under cross-examination. So we were not privy to those facts and that is why when the evi­dence changed, I had to review and make a decision, but based on what we have in evidence for the other matters, I feel fairly comfortable with those at this time.”

'Review all civil suits'

Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC, in a brief interview, called on Nicholas to review all civil suits the State filed under Ramlogan.

He said, “The collapse of the case and the comments of Prof Julien and other defen­dants in the case that it appears (the case) was a political witch-hunt is a serious matter.

“This is very serious because if the State was going to file an action for damages, the State ought to be sure there was evidence. In this case, the State did not make out there was no evidence to support the ingredients of the allegations of civil wrong.” Maharaj said.

“How the Government agreed to commence these proceedings is anyone's guess. I am calling on the Prime Minister to take steps and have the other matters reviewed so that they will not end up in the same spate. It is taxpayer's monies and they are being saddled with the costs,” he added.

How it started

A five-member team comprising Queen's Counsel Alan Newman, British forensic accountant Martin Hall, Guyanese commercial attorney Akbar Ali and local attorneys Gerald Ramdeen and Mark Seepersad were introduced to the populace at a media briefing on August 13, 2010, at the Office of the Attorney General.

The man behind the appointments, then AG Anand Ramlogan had the blessing of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Government members to commence the probes.

Their mandate: uncover corruption with the aim of securing both criminal and civil proceedings against former State board members who served under the then Patrick Manning administration.

The team had been commissioned by Ramlogan to investigate the operations of several State agencies, including UTT, Petrotrin, The Sports Company of T&T (SporTT) T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC), Evolving Technologies and Enter­prise Devel­opment Co Ltd (eTecK) and the Scarborough Hospital. There was also an audit into the water taxi Su.

The alleged criminal wrong-doing uncovered was supposed to have been passed onto the police for further investigation.

Within a year into the probes, Ramlogan changed his tune, saying the probes would only concentrate on civil proceedings.

Checks with the police, as well as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) revealed no matter concerning UTT, eTecK, Petrotrin, SporTT, MV Su, or T&TEC are being criminally probed.

On the team's budget, according to Ramlogan, on August 13, 2010, “No price is too heavy for this country to pay to unravel the corruption and mismanagement that took place under the PNM, to ensure that it never happens again and to ensure that the public's sense of outrage and sense of justice is one that is satisfied, provided there is a case to answer. I attach no ceiling to this matter.”

Three months later, Seepersad left the team while on January 18, 2011, Hall died of a heart attack.

The team was also assigned to work with police officers attached to the Anti-Corruption Investigative Bureau, a unit which falls under the remit of the AG's office.

Sources told the Sunday Express during the UTT probe, several employees were interviewed and the hard drives belonging to employees were cloned. All interviews were tape recorded.

On September 16, 2010, at the opening of the 2010-2011 law term at the Hall of Justice, Ramlogan responded to criticisms by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, who had spoke out against Ramlogan's decision to hire “his friends” to conduct the audit.

At the time, Ramlogan responded: “I don't know if Dr Rowley expects me to hire my enemies. What am I to do, hire people who are not my friends? I have a lot of friends in the legal profession and I tend to rely on them for independent, impartial, reliable and competent legal advice, and I make no apologies for that.”

On December 11, 2010, two department heads at UTT were suspended while the audits were being conducted. A release from UTT had said while the audits and interviews were taking place, the heads of Finance and Capital Projects Divisions were sent on leave.

On September 15, 2012, Ramlogan, in a telephone interview with the Sunday Express, said, “UTT was a virtual cash cow and there was a lot of wasted expenditure of the public money. It is important that these matters such as neglect and maladministration be pursued in the public interest, and I intend to vigorously pursue the UTT, Petrotrin, eTecK and, soon to come, T&TEC.”

Checks by the Sunday Express revealed eTecK is before the Privy Council while Petrotrin versus Malcolm Jones remains sla­ted for a case-management conference at the Port of Spain High Court.

Legal briefing and lack of due diligence

The board at UTT—chairman Curtis Manchoon, deputy chairman Kelvin Mahabir, board members Alicia Edwards, Dr Nasser Mustapha, Kwasi Mutema, Br Michael Samuel and Winston Mohammed—had expressed concerns about taking legal action against the Julien-led board. The board was also worried about the legal fees paid to attorneys and the fact UTT had no say in which legal representatives should seek the interest of UTT.

According to minutes of the meeting of the directors, held in the boardoom of the Chaguanas campus on July 5, 2012, at 1.30 p.m., concerns were expressed over the retention of outside counsel and the cost attached.

“Mr Manchoon then read from a letter dated July 6, 2012, which had been addressed to Mr Ramdeen, the lead forensic auditor. He expressed concern that the board was not allowed adequate time to fully explore the matter of the payment for the legal action.

“Members expressed serious concern about the possible level of fees for which UTT would be responsible and, over which, it had no control.”

Ramdeen, according to the board minutes, advised the board had to proceed with litigation, on behalf of UTT, against then president Julien and others whose term ended in 2010.

“He further advised that the limitation period for such action did not apply because the irregularities, which the forensic audit had revealed, had been deliberately concealed by the former board.”

The minutes further showed it was Ramlogan who asked the board to initiate the million-dollar proceedings and directed that Ramdeen, attorney Varun (Dabideen) and Queen's Counsel Vincent Nelson seek the interest of UTT.

Mohammed, according to the minutes, “Felt that clearly, the attorney general (Ramlogan) had recommended action and the forensic auditors had been appointed by Corporation Sole. He felt, therefore, that he was legally and morally obligated to comply with the request of the attorney general”.

Samuel, the minutes stated, expressed his lack of confidence in litigation as history indicated nothing ever became of these matters.

“Mr Ramdeen agreed that Br Michael's concerns were legitimate as to date, only one case had come before the Caribbean Court of Justice.

“However, he felt that individuals must be accountable for their actions and become personally liable for them. State boards are no exception and the State should be able to recover losses sustained as a result of improprieties.”

Edwards, the minutes noted, enquired when the board will be furnished with a copy of the A-team's final report since she “was reluctant to make a decision without all the information”.

“Mr Dabideen advised that it would be available by the end of July.”

Sources say, to date, the report has not been made available to the board.


Next week: Part Two—How the UTT civil case collapsed and the concerns raised by the trial judge.

[Flex]

$5.7B mystery
By Andre Bagoo (Newsda).

A SINGLE page in a Budget document — detailing items totalling $5.7 billion in expenditure under the Ministry of National Security — yesterday puzzled the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament.

By the end of almost half-hour of questioning from the Opposition, MPs were nowhere closer to spelling out what exactly was covered by billion-dollar increases in “direct charges”; overtime and an allocation for “vacant posts” under Head 22 of the Draft Estimates of Recurrent Expenditure. It was the very first item reviewed by the Committee which is meant to provide detailed scrutiny of the fineprint of the Budget.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar raised questions on page 120 of the document, asking what accounted for a $2.5 billion increase in personnel expenditure at the Ministry. “Of what is this increase composed of?” she asked.

“Does it mean more staff, more salaries?” Minister of National Security Brigadier Edmund Dillon said the increase was due to a number of factors.

“There has been the merger of different ministries,” he said. “For instance the prisons, forensics and the National Operations Centre returned back to the Ministry of National Security. There was also an increase in responsibility. There was an increase in salaries and there were also arrears to be paid off.” Under further questioning by the Opposition Leader, Dillon said the “increase in responsibilities”, he itemised, was actually a reference to the return of the various departments to the Ministry. Persad- Bissessar then asked about a near $1billion increase in salaries and allowances deemed “direct charges”, an item which was separate and apart from another item for, “Salaries and Cost of Allowance”.

“Could you be so kind to share with us what these are, these direct charges?” Persad-Bissessar asked.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert said, “direct charges do need to be appropriated so they do not form part of the appropriation.” He said there were about $11 billion in “direct charges” overall in the Budget. “They are not appropriated, they are first paid then the rest of the allocation is the appropriation,” Imbert said.

“But my question is what are these direct charges where we are looking at almost $1 billion in increases,” Persad-Bissessar replied.

“What do we mean when we say direct charges? It’s repeated throughout page 120.” Imbert said he would consult with civil servants on the matter. “If you require that level of detail I will get it from the Director of Budgets who is here,” Imbert said.

“That is the purpose of this committee,” the Opposition Leader replied.

Later, after making checks, Imbert said, “as I said, direct charges are charged to the Consolidated Fund without need for an appropriation. What more do you want to know? These are facts.” “That’s not the issue,” Persad-Bissessar said. “Can you give me an example of a direct charge? Tell me.” “It says salaries, what more do you want to know about salaries?” Imbert. The Opposition Leader replied, “Yes, but you have salaries (under another head already).

What is the difference? There must be an answer.” Imbert said other documents provided a breakdown of the direct charges, but the Speaker of the House intervened to suggest Imbert explain how there can be “salaries” and a separate head of “salaries — direct charges”. Imbert insisted, “it is crystal clear. The salaries are the direct charges, what more is there to say?” “I think we will move on, the minister does not appear to see a difference,” the Opposition Leader said. “He is not prepared to answer.” She vacated her question.

Both Government ministers were asked to explain why the heading for arrears due to public officers stated there were only $10,000 in arrears, despite the claim of bills left looming by the People’s Partnership administration.

“How much of this $2.5 billion increase in salaries under this head constitutes arrears?” Persad-Bissessar asked. “We will get that information for you,” Imbert replied.

The total expenditure on the single page under discussion was $5.7 billion.

[Flex]

ARRESTS COMING SOON IN $549M EMBD CASE
By Mark Bassant
Lead Guardian Editor, Investigative Desk

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB) has cracked the case involving the pillaging of taxpayers' money through a fraudulent scheme involving the Estate Management and Business Development (EMBD) company in the lead-up to the September 2015 general election and arrests are imminent.

Over the last year and a half, officers from the ACIB with assistance from a UK prosecution and investigations firm–Edmonds Marshall McMahon–have been able to piece together complex financial information which forms part of the criminal investigation being pursued by the T&T Police Service (TTPS).

A document obtained by Guardian Media revealed that a prominent politician "orchestrated a scheme that resulted in significant funds being secured and spent by the EMBD six weeks before the general election on September 7," amounting to a staggering $549 million, just over half a billion dollars.

Investigators believed that this politician was able to implement the fraudulent scheme with the assistance of a former senior employee of the EMBD "who has now fled the country" and his "close acquaintances," the CEOs of at least four construction companies, "who in turn engaged the assistance of subordinates."

Investigators have painstakingly mapped out the modus operandi of the major players, several individuals and companies, who helped to facilitate this scheme from the embryonic stages to fruition.

The modus operandi, people involved

Close to five years ago, this was the modus operandi of the elaborate scheme involving a politician, prominent businessmen, advertising heads, security services, special advisers and communications specialists:

Investigators broke down the key players and their roles in the scheme.

*First, there was the controlling mind: Someone that has significant control over others

*Second, the subordinate: Someone who is under the control of a controlling mind

*Third, the launderer: Someone whose principal involvement is to receive and dissipate the criminal proceeds

How the scheme went down

1. The man termed "the boss" by investigators, with the assistance of the former EMBD senior employee and a contractor, concocted a series of road upgrade projects, known as C1-C10 roads. Investigators revealed these projects "came out of the blue" and "a note to the Cabinet seeking approval for the works and funding had been drafted long before an EMBD engineer had visited the site."

2. "The boss" instructed the senior EMBD employee to add the tenth road to the draft note which was sent to the Cabinet on the basis that "one particular contractor wanted to do the job." Investigators stated that no other justification was provided for this job and the senior EMBD employee obliged.

3. "The boss" presented the note to Cabinet and the works and funding was approved on April 30, 2015, for the sum of $330,375,000 (excluding VAT). Investigators discovered that these projects did not form part of EMBD's scope of work and, therefore, became additional funding.

4. Companies owned by "the boss's" close acquaintances were later invited to tender for the road contract.

5. By the time the tender had come around, EMBD's estimates for the cost of the roads had been arbitrarily inflated to $416,340,445 by a senior employee at the EMBD. This meant that bidders could now bid higher, the document explained.

6. Bidding companies colluded with each other to predetermine who would win which road. During the lengthy investigation, police found evidence of full bid information for the C7 and C8 roads, dated before the bids being submitted, on a computer of one of the companies in question.

7. The contracts were awarded to the companies with bids that were "suspiciously close to the estimates." At least eight of the ten bids were within two per cent of the estimates.

8. Once work on the roads began, it is alleged the companies submitted fraudulent claims for material not used or work not done. In one instance a company claimed $23 million for Guaracara boulders that were not used. Another company double-counted and over claimed a similar amount for excavation work linked to road widening that was never done.

A senior EMBD employee apparently signed off on these claims. Investigators believe he "must have been complicit." Another employee questioned the claims made by two other companies but was told by another senior EMBD employee that he had to sign off the claims because "the boss" had ordered it. An initial international expert report has confirmed the likelihood of this fraud.

9. "The boss" needed the claims signed off as quickly as possible so the drawdown of the funds could be obtained from the Ministry of Finance, the investigators stated.

10. On August 25, 2015, "the boss" instructed an official to submit the claim to the Ministry of Finance to make interim payments to the companies in the sum of $179,626,481.63 (TT).

11. The Ministry of Finance, which initially said there was no money to meet the claims, approved $100,000,000 on September 1, 2015. The following day, the senior at a particular company, after receiving instructions from "the boss" as to how the $100m should be spent, sent a message to the senior employee at the EMBD. Investigators discovered that "the boss" would regularly instruct the senior EMBD employee who should be paid.

12. "The boss" was able to help secure additional funding for the EMBD through a $400 million loan from First Citizens Bank. The investigators revealed that in total–between August 7 and September 3, 2015–the EMBD received funding to the tune of $549 million. By the close of the business on September 4, all the money had been spent. Four companies received a total of close to $400 million. Other contractors received nothing.

The deal

Investigators detailed that in exchange for winning C1-C10 contracts, having their fraudulent claims signed off and being well remunerated, "it is suspected that these companies agreed to pay kickbacks out of the proceeds, with these being either to fund (party name called) 2015 election campaign or to reward "the boss" and his friends."

According to the forensic investigation, a paper trail revealed that "about $60m of unexplained payments has been identified to companies or individuals that appear to have no commercial connection to the companies." In one instance, millions of dollars were paid to low-level employees in one of the companies that benefited from the fraudulent scheme. The document stated that "as the money trail is followed the amounts converted to cash increase."

The lengthy probe also found that apart from the enrichment of certain companies, a former senior EMBD employee who cowered to "the boss's" instructions also benefited from payments amounting to over $1 million.

Sources told Guardian Media that the money trail has led to real estate properties that were purchased in London.

During the year-and-a-half-long investigation, the ACIB conducted searches of several companies across the country. They were able to collect digital data from EMBD and other state entities. They also obtained several production orders covering at least 24 account holders and information on close to 50 bank accounts.

The ACIB was also able to obtain production orders from two telecom companies and call and message logs for at least 12 key phone numbers.

They have also obtained witness statements from EMBD staff, police officers and cybercrime officers, Central Bank, T&T Mortgage Company, Price Waterhouse Coopers and a quarry company.

CoP responds:

Commissioner Gary Griffith confirmed that a UK firm with experience was needed to assist in the EMBD matter and other matters like LifeSport and other pending cases. But he did not give any further comments regarding the status of the EMBD case.

"Obviously, in any major investigation, I cannot give specific details. I can say there is an ongoing investigation pertaining to questionable activities at the EMBD from several years ago. As in other major investigations, as in past investigations, all the matters before it must be thoroughly investigated. I have done Emailgate, Calabar Foundation the plant-like substance at the former prime minister's residence and others."

[Flex]

Moonilal unconcerned about EMBD reports
by Renuka Singh (Guardian).

Opposition MP Dr Roodal Moonilal said yesterday he is not going to respond to any “obscure” reports that name no one and say nothing but talk of imminent arrests and search warrants.

Moonilal was referring to a news report which detailed a months-long investigation into fraudulent transactions and a multi-million syphon of cash out of the Estate Management and Business Development Company (EMBD).

Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard has confirmed that he had met with police officers from the Anti Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB) last week to discuss the half a billion-dollar corruption case involving the EMBD almost five years ago.

A police probe revealed that a prominent politician “orchestrated a scheme that resulted in significant funds being secured and spent by the EMBD six weeks before the September 2015 general election amounting to a staggering $549 million.

Moonilal said he was not concerned about the details contained in the article, which spoke of the involvement of a then sitting MP.

“Why should I be concerned? The article is obscure and says nothing of substance,” he said.

He said that the Government “planted” a story in the media in the morning so that they could refer to it in the evening and use taxpayers money to renew the contract of some international team brought in by the Government.

“The British team is trying to get a contract renewed by Friday and I am calling on the Government to cease renewal of all contracts that have cost the taxpayers millions of pounds with nothing to show,” he said.

“The most important thing is that millions is being spent on this British team that has nothing to show and they want a renewal of their contract,” he said.

Moonilal said that is why a status report was published.

“But when you read the report and you saw ‘evidence requires development’, in local language that means we don’t have a damned thing,” he said.

When asked if he was contacted by the local police or their international counterparts, Moonilal said that the only people who contacted him on this matter was the media.

He said that the only time the police spoke to him was when he was questioned a few years ago on the A&V Drilling matter and the conduct of a senior Cabinet member.

“But they have not spoke to me about anything else and I am calling on those people who making mischief by raising issues of imminent arrests and search warrants and so on because what this does is it traumatises the local police and causes embarrassment to the police who know nothing about it,” he said.

[Flex]

State Dept hits corrupt T&T
SEAN DOUGLAS (NEWSDAY).

CORRUPTION and bureaucracy are impeding foreign investments into T&T, said a recent report by the United States State Department, 2020 Investment Climate Statement on Trinidad and Tobago.

It said TT is a high-income developing country with an annual GDP of $23.9 billion, which the International Monetary Fund predicts will fall by 4.5 percent this year due to collapsed global energy prices and the economic impact of covid19.

“TT’s investment climate is generally open and most investment barriers have been eliminated,” said the report, “but stifling bureaucracy and opaque procedures remain.”

The report hailed TT’s stable and democratic political system, its educated workforce, banking and insurance industries, rule of law and independent judicial system.

However it also spelt out the negative aspects of TT’s investment climate.

These were foreign exchange shortages, widespread perception of corruption among public officials, lack of transparency in public procurement, inefficient and complicated government bureaucracy, time-consuming resolution of legal conflicts such as enforcement of contracts, and violent crime.

The report said TT seeks foreign investment and has no laws nor practices to discriminate against foreign investors.

“But some have seen the decision-making process for tenders and the subsequent awarding of contracts turn opaque without warning, especially when their interests compete with those of well-connected local firms.”

Urging more help for administration and dispute resolution, the report lamented a difficulty of doing business. Out of 190 countries, TT ranked at 158 for registering property, 174 for enforcing contracts and 166 for payment of taxes, in a 2020 World Bank report.

While hailing TT’s judicial system as competent, fair and reliable, the report said the court system was very slow, requiring 1,340 days to resolve a contract claim, double the Latin American and Caribbean average.

The report reckoned the TT$ was overvalued by the Government.

“Shortages of foreign exchange, exacerbated by the Government’s maintenance of the local currency at values higher than those which the market would bear, cause considerable delays in conversion into world currencies.”

The report noted a pending withdrawal of US$1.1 billion from the US$5.9 billion Heritage and Stabilisation Fund to support covid19 measures.

“TT has laws to ensure protection of labour rights, consumers, and the environment.

“Enforcement, however, is lacking due to staffing shortages, capacity issues, and a bureaucratic judiciary.”

The report said corruption amongst public officials can be addressed by the Integrity in Public Life Act, Freedom of Information Act, Police Complaints Authority Act and Prevention of Corruption Act, but lamented their “infrequent application” and “lack of thorough enforcement.”

“The laws do not extend to family members of officials or to political parties. TT does not have laws or regulations to counter conflicts of interest in awarding contracts or government procurement.”

However the report said the Government has helped develop non-binding corporate governance standards to encourage private companies to establish internal codes of conduct to prohibit bribery of public officials.

“There are no protections for NGOs involved in investigating corruption,” said the report, “but investigations are not feared since corrupt actors are rarely punished.”

The report concluded, “US firms often say corruption is an obstacle to FDI (foreign direct investment), particularly in government procurement, since TT’s procurement processes are not transparent.”

[Deeks]

sound like the US to me!

[ABTrini]

The report concluded, “US firms often say corruption is an obstacle to FDI (foreign direct investment), particularly in government procurement, since TT’s procurement processes are not transparent.”

When a certain party was in power the process was evident to all they cronies - construction companies etc

[Flex]

Cops shut down alleged pyramid scheme
By Sharlene Rampersad (Guardian).
—With reporting by Mark Bassant.

A multi-million dollar pyramid scheme was dismantled yesterday by police in La Horquetta and nine people, including a soldier, were arrested.

Guardian Media understands that the group - the Drugs Sou Sou (DSS) - was set to pay out multiple members yesterday when the Special Operations Response Team of the TTPS was dispatched to control the crowd.

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said the people gathered were in breach of the Public Health Ordinance.

When the officers arrived at the house on Kathleen Warner Drive, Phase One La Horquetta, with the mobile detention bus in tow, those who were gathered scattered.

SORT, led by Sgt Mark Hernandez, then executed a search warrant on the property.

Senior investigators told Guardian Media that sums of money were found hidden in the apartment’s ceiling and in a water tank outside. They also recovered large sums of new 100-dollar bills and $20 notes stacked in bales and secured with rubber bands in cardboard boxes and garbage bags. They also found what appeared to be hundreds of receipts for people who possibly contributed money to the pyramid scheme.

Up to late last night, officers of the Finance Intelligence Branch (FIB) were counting the money with the assistance of machines to ascertain the sum seized.

The counting of the money took place at the La Horquetta Police Station after the money was transported to the station under heavy police guard.

Up to press time police had counted $6 million and expected the process to go until midnight.

In a TTPS release, CoP Griffith said “when the police find that amount of money, it will be seized as evidence.”

He warned the public that when the police receive a tip-off they will find the location and seize the money.

“That would mean people would lose their hard-earned money invested in these schemes,” he said.

A Guardian Media team visited the area and saw several groups of people watching from a distance as the police carried out their operation.

Several young men from the area, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Guardian Media that since DSS began its sou sou operations about two months ago, their lifestyles had improved.

“People helping themselves, buying vehicles, paying off their loans, we are living good now in La Horquetta,” one of them said.

Another said since the sou sou began, Phase One was now called “Little Dubai.” He claimed the young men in the community had turned away from illegal activities and had put their focus on the sou sou.

“People coming in here like nothing with real money and they safe, they good, nobody not interfering with them. Everybody looking out for each other and the warring between Phase One and Phase Two has calmed down. Why the police must disrupt all of that?” he asked.

At 7 pm, Guardian Media was told that about 200 people, all members of the DSS group, walked to the La Horquetta Police Station where the nine people and the money were taken.

The group chanted “Great is DSS” as they walked in a candle light vigil-type procession.

In a brief interview after the group got to the station, one man described the police action as victimisation. He said the action was a means of keeping poor people oppressed.

“This is the second time they have come at this guy…he is empowering the poor and black people, once they shut this down there will be a great fallout in La Horquetta. The Commissioner knows they have to give back this money, I think it is even beyond him that these instructions coming from right now,” the man, who also did not want to be identified, said.

Adding he had invested $50,000 in the DSS, the man added, “That is my legitimate funds and in this day and age, I am going to fight tooth and nail to get back my money. How is it their problem with what I decide to do with my money? That is mine!”

He said the head of the group came out of the police station around 6.30 pm and informed those gathered that his attorneys were at the station and had accounted for all the money.


Police officers go through a document at a home in Kathleen Warner Drive, Phase 1, La Horquetta during the police execution of a search warrant on the property yesterday.

[Flex]

Cops seize cash, detain 10 in alleged pyramid scheme
By Mark Bassant (Guardian).

At least ten people, including personnel from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, have been detained and millions of dollars recovered from what police say is an illegal pyramid scheme based in La Horquetta.

Investigators told Guardian Media that the exercise, co-ordinated by Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, ACP for Crime Jayson Forde and Sen Supt Ramkhelawan along with officers from the Special Operations Response Team(SORT) under Sgt Mark Hernandez, went to the La Horquetta apartment shortly after 10 am Tuesday.

Officers acting on information executed a warrant at the apartment located at 516 Kathleen Warner Drive.

During their search, police sources told Guardian Media that they found huge sums of money hidden in the ceiling of the apartment, as well as a nearby water tank and other areas.

"It’s a lot of money and looks like millions. The money was everywhere," one source disclosed.

Investigators also apprehended at least ten people, some of whom are serving members of the T&T Defence Force. The officers believe the cash may be related to money laundering activities by key persons held during the raid.

Up to a short while ago the area was still cordoned off and several lawyers had also arrived on the scene, sources said.

The father of one of the people detained said he has been on the scene since his daughter was detained but up until 1 pm he had not been told why his daughter was arrested.

Guardian Media understands that the main suspect is alleged to be running the biggest "sou sou" group in the country. To join, members must allegedly pay in $10,000 to receive $56,000 in return.

A new group was started on Saturday morning and Guardian Media understands there are almost 8,000 members.

Only recently, Guardian Media had run a series of stories about the dangers of the pyramid scheme.

Several regulatory authorities, including the Intelligence Unit (FIU), Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) and the Financial System Regulatory Authorities had jointly issued an advisory urging members of the public about jointing "pyramid schemes."

In recent months, members of the public have been encouraged to join these schemes via the social media platform of Whatsapp or by face to face contact with an individual. These schemes, authorities warned, falsely take the shape of new investments or even "sou sou" arrangements in other cases.

This is a developing story which will be updated as more information becomes available.

[Flex]

CoP launches investigation into return of $22 million cash
T&T Guardian Reports.

Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, has launched an investigation into the return of $22 million in cash. The money was seized by officers of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) who executed a search warrant at a house where it was alleged that persons were operating a Pyramid Scheme.

Griffith stated that the money was handed back to the operator of the scheme without his knowledge. He found it very suspicious that the money was returned without the input of the Financial Intelligence Bureau.

The following is a press release from the TTPS:

Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, has launched a widespread investigation at the highest level to determine who decided to return more than $22 million in cash which was seized from a house at Kathleen Warner Drive, Phase I, La Horquetta, yesterday, September 22nd.
The money was seized by officers of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) who executed a search warrant at a house where it was alleged that persons were operating a Pyramid Scheme.

The money was kept at a police station. Commissioner Griffith said preliminary investigations show that the money was handed back to the operator of the Scheme this morning without his knowledge and those of his Deputy Commissioners.

The CoP finds it very suspicious that $22 million in cash was seized and within hours, that money was checked and a decision made to give it back without the input of the Financial Intelligence Bureau (FIB) of the TTPS.

Investigators completed the count of the money at 12.30 am today. He said the investigation would determine if any criminal or disciplinary action is to be taken against any police officers.

Commissioner Griffith said the money was handed back without a proper investigation to determine whether any of it was counterfeit. He said no proper investigation was done as to the source of these funds, or whether the person or persons involved had committed any criminal acts.

As part of this investigation, the CoP said external forensic personnel will be brought in to determine if any of the money was counterfeit. CoP Griffith said he is aware that there is a concern that a number of persons invested their hard-earned money, hoping to cash in on this alleged Pyramid Scheme.

He gave the assurance that once these persons can prove that their money was legitimate, the TTPS will ensure that their money is returned to them in the shortest possible time. Diligent inquiries are being pursued at this time.

[Deeks]

 

[Flex]

Junior cops give DSS head seized $22m back
By Sharlene Rampersad (Guardian).

 Police Commissioner Gary Griffith says police officers are involved in the multi-million dollar La Horquetta pyramid scheme called the Drugs Sou Sou and may even have facilitated the return of millions of dollars seized on Tuesday to the operators.

In a live interview in the CNC3 7 pm newscast last night, Griffith said he intends to fully investigate why officers at the La Horquetta Police Station allowed nine people who were arrested on Tuesday to leave the station in the early hours of yesterday with over $22 million in cash seized during the raid on Tuesday.

Griffith was caught unaware yesterday after the nine arrested suspects were released with the money. Speaking on a radio interview during the morning, Griffith had said the cash was still being counted. But hours later in a release, Griffith said the T&T Police Service would launch an investigation into who authorised the releases. He said neither himself, his Deputy Commissioners nor the TTPS’ Financial Intelligence Bureau were aware of the decision.

Asked how this could have happened on CNC3 last night, Griffith said, “There is very little to explain…we messed up, we cannot take $22 million in cash and return that hours later.”

Griffith said the money could not have been counted in such a short time, there was no receipt made out for the money to confirm the amount returned and the money was not checked for any counterfeit bills.

“This does not stop here, I intend to continue to pursue this matter,” he said.

Special Operations Response Team (SORT) officers stand guard outside the Drugs Sou Sou on Kathleen Warner Drive, La Horquetta after police returned to the area yesterday.

ABRAHAM DIAZ

He again warned that when DSS collapses, thousands of people will lose their money, as he said when one person pays in $10,000 and is paid out $50,000, five other people would have to lose their money.

“People are saying that I should leave this alone but wait for it, as the Minister of National Security said, when the mark buss in two months or so, tens of thousands of people who are at the bottom of the pyramid and would have lost their tens of thousands of dollars will come crying to the same Gary Griffith.”

He confirmed there are police officers involved in the scheme, adding the bigger issue was that officers were complicit in getting the money back to the DSS administrators while an investigation was ongoing.

“When you have $22 million in cash, the police must be able to ascertain that all the proceeds you got from this $22 million are legit - so you can’t just bring receipts and link the receipts, you have to look at the receipts. Suppose somebody had a receipt for $50,000 in cash to give to that individual, we need to find out how you got that $50,000 or $100,000 or $150,000. The police officers left no receipts, no copies, so it is their word to claim they saw the receipts and the receipts would have been equivalent to $22,157,000, it reeks of questionable activity.”

Griffith said the investigation is still ongoing but again made another appeal to the public not to get involved in pyramid schemes. He said with the involvement of police and other law enforcement officers, it had become difficult for him to deal with the matter.

He said he was trying his best to keep the country safe but some citizens are kicking against his activities.

“It seems like certain people do not want this country to be safe but they want me to reduce crime but it must not affect them, it cannot work that way.”

He said the money that was seized from DSS could have been used as a front for money laundering, human trafficking, drugs, purchasing weapons or from gangs siphoning cash.

[ABTrini]

Pure flackery
Onwhose authority was this d vision made? Lock he arse up .
This money laundering is big time racketeering- you have Godfatners dons kingpins big fish call it what you may  but underground banking shows a  way inwhich to circumvent the tracking and legal tenure of currency.

Tell me why or how does 22million gets stored Ina local police station? Yuh joking?
 
Do we not have a central bank that could track serial numbers and vaults to act as proper storage?  Could we not have proper security to ensure these proceeds are not privy to the hands of corrupt cops?
Mr. COP root then out fire them and keep working to eradicate the elements of corruption that permeates this land.

It's a shame that there are those who wear this uniform are thieves among the many who are fighting to uphold and maintain law and order Ina nation that has been so transformed.
We need stricter laws - like inDubai where a criminal was seemed outfor crimes against a minor - he was order to be shot in public housed on a crane for display-

This crap we are seeing today goes back to 90's had the insurrectionists who stormed the Red House , be caught shackled , lined up  on Woodford square and  shot at a firing squad we would not be seeing such wanton disrespect and a boldness by criminal elements.
You live by the gun - catch them with gun- line them up - nightly army raids  block off communities and flush out the cockroaches - time to rid TnT of the fringing corruption plague

[Deeks]

I am having doubts about Gary!

[Flex]

Army vehicle moved DSS $22M away from cops
By Mark Bassant, Lead Editor, Investigative Desk

When the $22 million was mysteriously returned to the CEO of DSS by police officers at the La Horquetta Police Station in the wee hours of last Wednesday morning, it triggered at least two parallel investigations to determine what exactly happened on that day.

And while police mull over the whereabouts of the money and the man behind the Drugs Sou Sou (DSS) scheme, army intelligence sources said that on the morning the money left the La Horquetta Police Station it was taken to a house in Talparo for safekeeping while other arrangements were being made.

Guardian Media was told that on Friday at approximately 9:15 pm, a Black Toyota Fortuner bearing a Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) number plate (registration number withheld) with at least two individuals loaded the money from the house and allegedly drove to a heavily fortified and guarded state location (name withheld) where the money is now being kept. This particular vehicle is frequently used by one of the DSS admins, who is also a member of the TTDF.

Investigators returned to the La Horquetta apartment on Wednesday afternoon with a search warrant in hand hoping to speak with the DSS CEO and presumably take possession of the money, Guardian Media was told. But four days later, the police cannot locate the Lance Corporal or find the millions once stored at the apartment.

So what exactly happened on the day of the seizure?

Senior investigators told Guardian Media that officers of the Special Response Operations Team (SORT) arrived at the apartment after obtaining information about several people gathering and breaching the Public Health Ordinance due to COVID-19.

The DSS CEO and owner of the property was not at the apartment when police arrived, but investigators said a phone call had been made to the owner of the apartment and he indicated that he would be returning shortly with his lawyer.

SORT officers were later confronted by a 47-year-old man who they later found out was a warrant officer with the TTDF. He explained to them that he was merely cleaning the yard in the absence of the owner. The man who was later searched was found with a pistol, usually only licenced to be used on a firing range, and 28 rounds of ammunition. One can legally carry up to 25 rounds of ammunition.

A SORT officer later searched a nearby knapsack which the TTDF soldier claimed contained a coverall. In the knapsack, police found huge stacks of $100 notes which amounted to $700,000. That quantity of money was later handed over to the Financial Investigations Branch (FIB).

At the apartment, police noticed the movement of people through a window, even when the owner of the property had indicated he was not at home. The people in the house were later detained but no one said who the money belonged to.

Senior police sources said that the police secured the premises and contact was made with officers of the Northern Division to get a search warrant.

Sometime after, an inspector and a police constable arrived on the scene and met with SORT officers. It was only later a woman who was detained as one of the suspects told police she was the common-law wife of the owner of the apartment, who police said never showed up.

Police later executed the warrant and during a search of the premises, they found millions of dollars hidden in the ceiling, the water tank, and in boxes in the apartment.

Hours later the money was prepared for transport by the joint team of officers on the scene from the Northern Division and SORT.

The money arrived at the La Horquetta Police Station at approximately 6:35 pm. However, the counting of the money did not start until 8:30 pm since police officers were awaiting the three money counters that would be later brought by officers of the FIB. An inspector attached to the FIB who visited the station later left. Two officers of the FIB together with four officers of the Northern Division and the lawyer representing the DSS CEO and his common-law wife were in the room during the counting of the money.

Sources familiar with the investigation told Guardian Media that close to midnight officers of the FIB left and they indicated they would return in the morning to secure the money for further investigation.

Police sources said investigations revealed that while the money was being counted, a senior officer and a constable from the Northern Division visited the DSS CEO at his La Horquetta premises where there was a conversation.

In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, according to investigators, an entry was made in the police diary in which the money was released to the DSS CEO who appeared at the police station for the first time.

Guardian Media understands that the officers' conduct and the conversation they allegedly had with the DSS CEO earlier at his apartment is now the subject of an investigation by the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).

Sources said that the officers could face disciplinary action and if found culpable could also face criminal charges of perverting the course of justice and misbehaviour in public office.

Senior investigators confirmed all relevant personnel will be interviewed about this matter.

Questions to TTDF:

Guardian Media called and sent WhatsApp messages to TTDF officials for a comment on the matter.

1. Good afternoon Sir, in reference to the officer from the TTDF who is also the DSS CEO, is the army considering any disciplinary action?

2. There are also allegations that a TTDF vehicle was used to transport the money after it was taken out the police station on Wednesday and moved to the house before a TTDF vehicle was loaded up with the money on Friday night and transported to a secure location. Please comment?

3. Considering the huge amounts of money and allegations of money laundering what is the TTDF's position?

4. Was the officer given permission to become a licenced money lender while serving as a Lance Corporal? Is this permissible in the eyes of the TTDF?

Up to late last night, there was no response from the TTDF.

1. Good afternoon Sir, in reference to the officer from the TTDF who is also the DSS CEO, is the army considering any disciplinary action?

2. There are also allegations that a TTDF vehicle was used to transport the money after it was taken out the police station on Wednesday and moved to the house before a TTDF vehicle was loaded up with the money on Friday night and transported to a secure location. Please comment?

3. Considering the huge amounts of money and allegations of money laundering what is the TTDF's position?

4. Was the officer given permission to become a licenced money lender while serving as a Lance Corporal? Is this permissible in the eyes of the TTDF?

[Deeks]

Rowley losing control of security of this country. If situation like this can happen, our in real shit street.

[Flex]

DSS source claims $92M actually seized during raid
By Mark Bassant (Guardian).

Critical phone recordings between a high-ranking police officer and a Drugs Sou Sou (DSS) official discussing the actual amount of money seized and a deal to release some of the cash, after it was seized and hauled to the La Horquetta Police Station, are just some of the crucial information revealed to Guardian Media as the probe into the case continues.

A person close to the DSS operations yesterday claimed that the police actually seized close to $92 million from the La Horquetta apartment where they operated from and there are phone recordings to prove this.

The revelation came even as a video surfaced on social media of a member of the T&T Police Service led raiding team stuffing his uniform with money in one of the rooms during the operation.

Guardian Media had been reliably informed about the phone recordings and reached out to a DSS official with knowledge about the operations and raid. The DSS official confirmed the phone recordings and also said there was further video evidence to prove other wrongdoing by law enforcement personnel.

“When the police had done the count up to that night at the station, it was between $22 to $24 million. But there were two other cases of money unaccounted for and the actual amount of money that the police seized was near to $92 million,” the DSS source told Guardian Media on the condition of strict anonymity after questions had been sent for their response.

The official was asked if a certain police officer (name called) contacted someone at DSS.

“I will neither confirm nor deny the name of the officer, but there were at least two conversations with this police officer,” the DSS source claimed.

“The officer was told there was a large sum of money not recorded in the receipts and the person informed the police officer there was actually $92 million.”

Asked about the second phone conversation, the DSS source said, “In that phone call, some kind of arrangement was made where $74 million would be returned to DSS and the other $18 million would be kept.”

Sources told Guardian Media that the remaining money was to be split between law enforcement personnel involved in the DSS operation and others they co-opted into the act to retrieve the seized money.

Apart from two officers who had visited the DSS location during the count of the seized on Tuesday night, a phone call was also made by the high-ranking officer to ensure the money was released to the DSS handlers after the alleged deal was struck.

Sources told Guardian Media that there are several audio recordings and videos over a period of time allegedly proving wrongdoing.

“There was no verifying of the source of funds in this instance but it was released in the wee hours of Wednesday morning,” said a senior police investigator involved in the case.

Officers of the Financial Investigation Branch (FIB) were present when the initial count began at 8.30 pm on Tuesday but later left, leaving mainly Northern Division officers at the station.

Up to the time FIB and SORT officers left the La Horquetta station, the total counted thus far given by the Northern Division officers was $22 million and this was the information passed on to Police Commissioner Gary Griffith.

But a senior FIB investigator made it clear that they were not involved in the actual counting of the seized funds, noting they would only have been able to take possession of the cash after the count was finished and all necessary protocols were observed. The FIB had hoped to do that the following morning but the money was released before they could return to the station.

A legal source told Guardian Media that under the Proceeds of Crime Act, there was perhaps a case for the DSS to answer under the Securities Act since the company identified itself as an investment company but may not be registered under this act.

Another source added there were questions to answer on the culpability of alleged money laundering.

An army intelligence source also said yesterday that three days after community leader Cedric “Burkie” Burke died, some of his relatives and associates visited DSS in the hope of getting money he had poured into the scheme.

Sources claimed Burke had deposited $12 million and when his associates arrived at DSS they were told they would be given only some of the money. Burke’s associates wanted all the cash and so left and returned a few days later, only to be still told that DSS was unable to pay since Burke, who had died from COVID-19, never left any instructions to pay anyone out when he died.

[Deeks]

Is ah army man running this pyramid. He take 12 million from Burke(of all people). If all of this is true, the army man should be disbarred from the army. He is a security risk. Or unless he working undercover.

[soccerman]

I am having doubts about Gary!

Why?

[Deeks]

I am having doubts about Gary!

Why?

It appears that he is not in control!