Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

[evanovitch]

Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry
published: Thursday | November 8, 2007

THE MAJOR Investigations Task Force has commenced a probe into the theft of millions of dollars from the Ministry of Finance.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green last night said the probe began a few weeks ago, but was reluctant to state the stage of the investigation.

Minister of Finance Audley Shaw told The Gleaner that the money amounted to $17 million. He said that it went missing between August and October this year.

"I have given instructions that the balance of the money be transferred to the Bank of Jamaica for safekeeping," Mr. Shaw told The Gleaner yesterday.

The money was in the care of the Financial Investigation Division (FID), which is headed by Christine Chambers.

Confirmed by Davies

Former finance minister Omar Davies confirmed that he has heard about the funds going missing.

Dr. Davies, however, noted that "The minister does not have anything to do with the safekeeping of money. It is part of the FID's responsibility. They were retaining the cash as evidence."

Money which is the subject of criminal investigations is held by the FID as evidence until a determination is made by the court.

[evanovitch]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

Finance ministry robbed
$17 million was exhibit in case under investigation
AL EDWARDS
Thursday, November 08, 2007



THE finance ministry last night confirmed the shocking discovery that at least $17 million is missing from a safe at its Financial Investigation Division (FID), prompting a decision to beef up security at the Heroes Circle offices in Kingston.

The money was being kept as an exhibit after it was seized from a person who had been under investigation, Finance Minister Audley Shaw and his deputy, Don Wehby, said.
Neither Shaw nor Wehby would give the name of the individual under investigation.

Shaw said the money was stolen between August and October this year and he suggested that investigators would start their search internally for the culprits, utilising lie detectors.

"We are taking this matter very seriously and polygraph tests will be conducted," the finance minister declared. "We now understand that it is not just one individual who is responsible for this heinous theft but a group acting in concert. I am now awaiting a detailed report on this matter from the financial secretary."

Shaw told the Observer he had since taken steps to ensure additional security measures at the Ministry of Finance in the future.

"I have issued instructions that all monies will now be held at the Bank of Jamaica's Nethersole Place headquarters for safekeeping," he added.

Wehby yesterday confirmed that an investigation had been launched into the theft, saying that the $17 million figure could go higher.

Investigators from the Police Fraud Squad were continuing their probe into the matter and Wehby is expected to brief journalists some time today after an update from the police.
"I must say, though, that something like this is very alarming. We are taking it very seriously," Wehby told the Observer.

[Blackstar*]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

Dang! Jamaica is sounding more and more like the lawless Wild West. Wat a ting. Isn't there anyone in power who wants Jamaica to be better country rather than looking to line their own pockets?

[niceniss]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dang! Jamaica is sounding more and more like the lawless Wild West. Wat a ting. Isn't there anyone in power who wants Jamaica to be better country rather than looking to line their own pockets? </div></div>

the money went missing just days prior to the election. money went missing under pnp's watch. hence the new government's investigations

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Donnika</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dang! Jamaica is sounding more and more like the lawless Wild West. Wat a ting. Isn't there anyone in power who wants Jamaica to be better country rather than looking to line their own pockets? </div></div>

the money went missing just days prior to the election. money went missing under pnp's watch. hence the new government's investigations </div></div>
What is this administration going to do,spend the whole term on fraud alleged and suspected?
Yes we want the fraud to be investigated,but what about the running of the country? i am not hearing nothing abooput that.
Does it take all of the assets of this administration to investigate this? Or is that all they can do? I can remember Them spending an inordinate amount of their timeand resources search/looking for fraud. It is time to poresent the outline of the strattegies to mive the country. We really cant spend all the tiomeand rresources chasing what seem to be gone (if it is true that there is really fraud. I understand that they can't find th emoney to refund the parents contributions to the school fees,is it true??

[niceniss]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Donnika</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BlackStar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dang! Jamaica is sounding more and more like the lawless Wild West. Wat a ting. Isn't there anyone in power who wants Jamaica to be better country rather than looking to line their own pockets? </div></div>

the money went missing just days prior to the election. money went missing under pnp's watch. hence the new government's investigations </div></div>
What is this administration going to do,spend the whole term on fraud alleged and suspected?
Yes we want the fraud to be investigated,but what about the running of the country? i am not hearing nothing abooput that.
Does it take all of the assets of this administration to investigate this? Or is that all they can do? I can remember Them spending an inordinate amount of their timeand resources search/looking for fraud. It is time to poresent the outline of the strattegies to mive the country. We really cant spend all the tiomeand rresources chasing what seem to be gone (if it is true that there is really fraud. I understand that they can't find th emoney to refund the parents contributions to the school fees,is it true?? </div></div>

If it was the pnp taking over from the jlp amidst high corruption I bet your tune would be different.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

It would have been the same,if they behave in a similar fashion.

[niceniss]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It would have been the same,if they behave in a similar fashion. </div></div>
you wont be surprised if I say I dont beleive that, will you?

In any event, it is of paramount importance that the Jamaican people learn the corrupt reasons for the abject poverty they had to endure in order to know how to deal with such things.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is this administration going to do,spend the whole term on fraud alleged and suspected?</div></div>

Yes the Pirates of the Caribbean have totally robbed and as Mr. Clarke said rape the country. The new GOJ need to get at least some of it taken care of. I think the PNP should be locked up for careless shredding; apparently they did a very poor job in some areas.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Donnika</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It would have been the same,if they behave in a similar fashion. </div></div>
you wont be surprised if I say I dont beleive that, will you?

In any event, it is of paramount importance that the Jamaican people learn the corrupt reasons for the abject poverty they had to endure in order to know how to deal with such things. </div></div>
If that is where they are looking for the corrupt reasoons whey they are in poverty they won't find it. This reminds me of the boy that lost the coin in the night,and spend the whole might looking for it under the street light. only to fallasleep by morning and a homeless man found it further upm the road where the street light did not illuminate during the night.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is this administration going to do,spend the whole term on fraud alleged and suspected?</div></div>

Yes the Pirates of the Caribbean have totally robbed and as Mr. Clarke said rape the country. The new GOJ need to get at least some of it taken care of. I think the PNP should be locked up for careless shredding; apparently they did a very poor job in some areas. </div></div>
I think that everyone that is guilty should go to prison,but the cuntry have to be run in th emean time.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is this administration going to do,spend the whole term on fraud alleged and suspected?</div></div>

Yes the Pirates of the Caribbean have totally robbed and as Mr. Clarke said rape the country. The new GOJ need to get at least some of it taken care of. I think the PNP should be locked up for careless shredding; apparently they did a very poor job in some areas. </div></div>
I think that everyone that is guilty should go to prison,but the cuntry have to be run in th emean time. </div></div>

Why yu neva seh dat when the Prirates was robbing the country bline?

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is this administration going to do,spend the whole term on fraud alleged and suspected?</div></div>

Yes the Pirates of the Caribbean have totally robbed and as Mr. Clarke said rape the country. The new GOJ need to get at least some of it taken care of. I think the PNP should be locked up for careless shredding; apparently they did a very poor job in some areas. </div></div>
I think that everyone that is guilty should go to prison,but the cuntry have to be run in th emean time. </div></div>

Why yu neva seh dat when the Prirates was robbing the country bline? </div></div> They were not found guilty by any courts of law either.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">They were not found guilty by any courts of law either. </div></div>

You are right there are really no laws that will prevent them from doing it, except where fraud can be proven.
So the current Government might have to spend their whole term tracking down the evidence to prove fraud.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Probe launched into missing millions at Finance Ministry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">They were not found guilty by any courts of law either. </div></div>

You are right there are really no laws that will prevent them from doing it, except where fraud can be proven.
So the current Government might have to spend their whole term tracking down the evidence to prove fraud.
</div></div>
And that's the difference between the history of my apostuuing on thes eboards and yours. I have always defended the rule of law and human rights,while you defends it whe the accusers are favourabke to you and oooise it when they are not.
In other words I deal with principles,while you deal with personalities.