Police officers charged with ALL $ 1.8 million fake food fraud – Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana

Last updated on Monday, 12 April 2021, 21:43 by Denis Chabrol

Assistant Superintendent Kurt Smith Woman Superintendent Lorraine Saul

The Head of the Guyana Police Finance Department and Message Officer at Brickdam Police Station have been accused of allegedly defrauding the law enforcement agency of a total of ALL $ 1.8 million for food in food.

Police said only the Head of the Department of Finance, Assistant Superintendent Kurt Smith, was arrested before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and given $ 100,000 bail to ALL on all charges and ordered to return to court on May 14.

Woman Superintendent of Police, Lorraine Saul, who was the officer in charge of Brickdam Police Station’s Other Range Message, was “out of jurisdiction” and so the allegations were not read to her.

Mr Smith and Ms Saul were jointly charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony. Ms Saul was also charged separately with two counts of falsifying accounts.

It is alleged that between the period 1st in 15th December, 2020 Police Superintendent of Women L. Saul swam several accounts for meals provided by Brickdam Other Rank Mess for reimbursement at the Police Finance Department. The matter was reported to the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU).

The Brickdam Other Ranks Mess provides breakfast, lunch and supper to ranks located at various stations and locations in Division 4 ‘A’ Division.

Police said SOCU investigators revealed that Ms. Saul allegedly prepared an account dated December 18, 2020 and a small contract with the same date for meals supplied purportedly to ranks performing duties in Section ‘A’ Terrorist Unit Training between December 1 and December 15, 2020 to the amount of ALL $ 1,350,000 although “no such training has been undertaken for this period.”

Further, the police alleged that Ms. Saul also prepared another account and a minor contract dating the said dates for meals supplied allegedly to ranks who were performing fixed-point duties at Georgetown Prison between December 1 and December 15, 2020 for ALL $ 648,000. “Ms. Saul increased the number of ranks and the amount of meals on this account in the amount of $ 465,000,” police claimed.

Guyana Police said investigations also revealed that ASP Smith had conspired with Ms Saul to defraud and authorize the charges when such training or the extent of the feeding had not actually taken place. Further, ASP Smith, as the Finance Officer (allegedly) allegedly authorized the said payments from Government funds, the police claimed.

Mr Smith was not required to plead as the allegations were indictable.

The Court was informed that Police Woman Superintendent Loraine Saul was out of the jurisdiction. Matters are deferred to the 14th May, 2021 at 9:00 o’clock.

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