SOLOMON McDaniel, the proprietor of Mac D’s Auto, a used car dealership, and senior compliance officer at the Revenue Protection Department (RPD), Patrick Blake have been arrested by the Fraud Squad and charged with conspiring to defraud the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).

Both men are charged jointly with conspiracy to defraud $2,302,749. Additionally, Blake has been charged with fraudulent conversion, forgery, uttering and falsification of accounts.

Both men appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court on Thursday when Blake was offered bail in the sum of $1 million and McDaniel, $500,000. They are scheduled to return to court on Monday, April 14, when the case will again be mentioned.

Their arrest on Thursday followed a ruling by Director of Public Prosecutions Kent Pantry, after a year-long investigation by the RPD.

Warrants of arrest have also been issued for two other directors of the used car dealership.

Allegations are that McDaniel last year conspired with other persons, including Blake, to make false declaration to the General Consumption Tax department.

Police alleged that Blake, in his official capacity, forged certain accounts at the IRD in relation to GCT returns made by Mac D’s Auto between April and July 2001 to defraud the Government of more than $2 million.

Blake, who allegedly conspired with McDaniel in the scam, was sent on leave in November 2001 after the fraud was discovered, and was arrested and charged on Wednesday, while McDaniel was charged with the crime on Thursday.