WESTERN BUREAU — The Montego Bay fraud squad has launched an investigation into Softcom Limited following irregularities uncovered at the company over the last few days. The owner of the company is also being sought for questioning.

Yesterday, more than 300 employees of the Montego Bay-based company, which began operations less than a month ago, demonstrated in front of its Church Street offices, alleging that they had been fleeced of over $1 million.

Softcom began operations in early April with a skeleton staff; but up to Monday the company, had employed close to 500 persons.

Some workers said they were promised as much as $60,000 per month after statutory deductions, while others were told that they could earn a minimum of $7,000 weekly.

But before they could be employed each person had to pay the company $3,025 towards the purchase of uniforms.

The employees’ jobs included data entry, computer graphics and telemarketing.

The company was also involved in the sale of insurance to members of the public.

According to some workers, weekly and fortnightly cheques collected last week were all dishonoured by the bank.

The company owner failed to show for yesterday’s meeting to dicsuss the returned cheques, they said, and they later found out that 10 of the company’s more than 15 computers and other documents were missing from the offices.

At about 10 am yesterday, scores of employees gathered in front of the Church Street offices with the hope of getting refunds for the sums they had paid for uniforms, as well as their salary payments.

There was also a strong detachment of police on the scene.

A number of business places in Montego Bay were also reportedly fleeced, as they are still owed money for goods and services delivered.

Softcom Ltd’s assistant office manager, Jacqueline Murray, who was part of the company’s recruiting team, told the Observer that it wasn’t until last Friday that she became suspicious of her boss’ actions.

According to Constable Peter Salkey, the police’s information officer for St James, the police are asking persons who were employed to the company — as well as those who did business with it — to come forward with information they may have on Softcom’s operations.