A civil engineer/businessman and an inspector of police were among five persons arrested yesterday for alleged forgery and conspiracy to defraud by detectives from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force (MOCA) during simultaneous operations spanning four parishes.

Detectives from MOCA were assisted by the Financial Investigation Division, the Police Anti-Corruption Branch, Mobile Reserve, Organised Crime Investigation Division, and the Flying Squad in the operations carried out at six locations in Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, and in Portland. They were the culmination of an investigation which began over two years ago, MOCA officials told the Jamaica Observer.

“The prominent civil engineer and his co-conspirators, which includes two electrical engineers and a manager, are scheduled to be interviewed in the presence of their attorneys following which formal charges will be proffered,” a release from MOCA said yesterday.

During one of the operations yesterday, the police visited a business complex on Central Avenue in Kingston where they removed computer equipment and several other items from the premises.

During the search, attorney-at-law Abe Dabdoub, who is believed to be representing one or more of the individuals being questioned by the police, claimed that the root of the operation was with the Office of the Contractor General (OCG).

“The genesis of this is with the contractor general and you need to ask him what is going on,” said Dabdoub when questioned by the Jamaica Observer.

Yesterday, Contractor General Dirk Harrison denied the allegations and said all queries should, therefore, be made to officials from MOCA.

“At no time has the Office of the Contractor General engaged MOCA in terms of working on behalf of us,” said Harrison.