KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency says that over the past month, its detectives have been probing a number of incidents in which police personnel, with the aid of civilians, have been using Government-issued Advance Cards to fraudulently obtain goods and cash.

MOCA said in a news release Tuesday that these cards are provided by the government to fuel Jamaica Constabulary Force service vehicles. However, according to MOCA, in several cases, the system has been “corruptly abused”.

According to the release, the first probe began in April 2016 by MOCA West detectives.

The investigations led to Chayon Anderson, a gas station employee of a St James address, being arrested and charged for conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretence.

Anderson reportedly appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, May 5, where she was offered bail in the sum of J$750,000 with sureties.

Anderson is to return to court on Thursday, July 7, 2016.

MOCA said a second investigation into the fraudulent use of Government Advance Cards led operatives to police constable David Madden, who is attached to the St James Division.

Madden was arrested during an operation on Friday, May 13. MOCA said during the operation, he was searched and a data storage device containing incriminating items to substantiate breaches of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act was reportedly found.

MOCA said a search was also conducted of his home and further items of “crucial evidential value to support his involvement in the fraudulent use of Government Advance Cards” were allegedly found.

The police constable was charged on Monday, May 16 for breaching the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transaction) (Special Provisions) Act and will appear in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court today.

He is also expected to be charged soon for  the alleged fraudulent use of Government Advance Cards.

A detective sergeant of the Technical Services Division and gas station employee, Antoine Lindo, were also charged by detectives from MOCA for conspiracy to defraud, following a ruling by the Director of Public Prosecution.

The detective sergeant, Mark Gordon, and Lindo were charged on Saturday, May 28.

MOCA said investigations revealed that between August 2015 and May 21, 2016, Gordon and Lindo allegedly conspired to fleece hundreds of thousands of dollars from two Government Advance Gas Cards.  

The two cards were reportedly found in Lindo’s possession on Friday, May 20.

MOCA said an operation was then conducted on May 21, which resulted in the arrest of Detective Sergeant Gordon.

Both men were scheduled to appear in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Cleon March, director of investigations for MOCA, stated: “These investigations have unearthed corrupt practices by police officers supported by civilians to abuse an important system designed to fuel the JCF vehicles and it is concerning (sic) to see how widespread it has become.

“My investigators and I will continue robustly investigating all incidents of police corruption and major organised crime and I urge anyone with information to please call,” March said.