17 arrested in alleged $160-million fraud case

Following a year of intense police investigations, 17 of 27 suspects in a multimillion-dollar fraud at the Seprod Group of Companies were nabbed earlier this week by members of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigations Branch (C-TOC).

This information was released yesterday by Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey at a press conference held at the CIB Headquarters, NCB South Tower, Oxford Road, St Andrew. According to Bailey, on May 16, 2022, Seprod reported an alleged case of fraud at the Facey Commodity Limited van sales department amounting to close to $160 million.

"The investigation uncovered that between October 2021 and May 2022 a total of $159,860,000 was stolen from Seprod Group of Companies. The investigation uncovered that two IT employees manipulated the computer system to facilitate 24 other employees as well as a route sales driver and assistant who participated in the fraud by collecting goods from Seprod warehouse on behalf of [the] van sales department and subsequently sold the goods and kept the proceeds," he said.

The senior cop said fraud occurred on several other occasions during the same time period.

"On April 12, members of C-TOC conducted special operations across Clarendon, St Catherine and the Corporate Area, where 17 suspects involved in the fraud were arrested and placed in custody. Fourteen of these suspects have been charged so far," the senior cop said.

The 14, all males, were charged with embezzlement, conspiracy to defraud at common law, access with intent to commit or facilitate the commission of offences and conspiracy to engage in a transaction involving criminal property. They will appear before the St Andrew Parish Court on May 22.