More arrests likely in tax office fraud crackdown, says MOCA
Published:Friday | January 27, 2017 | 12:00 AMChristopher Serju
Five employees of the Cross Roads tax office in St Andrew were taken into custody yesterday morning during a surprise operation conducted by the Revenue Protection Division with help from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), and the Financial Investigation Division. Investigators say more arrests are likely.
MOCA officials said the operations, conducted simultaneously across several parishes, were targeting major fraud allegedly committed at a collectorate of Tax Administration Jamaica.
Several persons have since been arrested in connection with this scheme, which has reportedly deprived the tax-collection agency of millions of dollars.
During the operation, persons who attempted to conduct business at the location were turned away without explanation, while those already on the inside were prevented from leaving.
"Closed for a while", was the vague response from officers manning both entrances, with no explanation as to when the office would open for regular business.
Lamenting the lack of information on the closure, one motorist told The Gleaner that his vehicle's fitness certificate expired yesterday and he was at a loss as to whether the other tax offices were open for business.