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State auditors probing alleged traffic fines fraud at Springlands
The Audit Office of Guyana has sent a team to Berbice to probe allegations that traffic fines were stolen in an apparent fraud scheme. According to Auditor General Deodat Sharma, drivers and owners of vehicles who may have information are asked to make contact with his office. The team was dispatched to Springlands yesterday by the Auditor General.
File Photos: The questionable receipts that four drivers presented.
On Saturday, Kaieteur News published a report in which four motorists from Berbice claimed that monies paid to a Station Sergeant at the Springlands Police Station were recorded as lesser amounts on receipts. This was reported to ‘B’ Division Commander, Brian Joseph, who has launched an investigation into the allegations.
Navendranauth Kesar, of Springlands, Corriverton; Ramesh Singh of Scottsburg, Corriverton; Neil Joyce of Number 77 Village, Corriverton, and Ravindra Lorry of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, claimed that they were coerced into paying the warrant fees. The drivers all had their receipts.
Singh said that he paid $94,000 but has a receipt for $67,750; Joyce said he paid $32,000 while the receipt states $25,725 and Lorry said that he paid $26,000 while his receipt states $6,075.
Whenever motorists delay payments of traffic tickets, warrants would be issued in their names, that follow a court proceeding.
Kesar said that he was called by the officer in April and told that “I had seven arrest warrants”. “When I go in, I told him that I came to pay.” Kesar claims he was told he had to pay $74,000 for the warrants, “and he never showed me any arrest warrants but he called my car and truck number twice. Then he told me three more warrants were there, but he didn’t show me, and then he told me I owed $74,000.”
“I asked him how it came to so much money. He said ‘we will re-calculate’ and then he said to pay $64,000 …and he gave me my receipt, but I never checked it in front of him.” Upon arriving at home and checking the document, Kesar said that he saw $20,725.
He went back the following day (April 11) and confronted the officer about the incorrect sum stated on the receipt. “He told me not to take worries with that and that he will look after that.”
Kesar then took the matter to Commander Joseph.
Other drivers, too, claimed they were fleeced by the officer.
“I think either he robbing the government, or he robbing the people who collecting the monies.” The other drivers who saw what was written on their receipts also questioned the incorrect figures, but say they were intimidated.
“When he heard I took the matter to higher authorities, he called me at the [Skeldon] Market front and tell me he will come reach me. He called me and I go in his car and he offered me back my money—begged me to done the story and I told him I wouldn’t do it.”
“We don’t want no police to handle this investigation, because you cannot try the devil case in hell, and that is what is going on. We want other investigators from Georgetown, but not the police from New Amsterdam.”
Another victim discussing the dynamics surrounding warrants and ticketed offences, stated that after the matter is called in court the Magistrate often “bends a little for the offenders to pay their warrant monies”.
“This can be in the form of one month or six weeks, as is requested by the offenders, so the Magistrate will agree or tell them they will go to jail. If they pay the money during the time, the matter is finished, but this policeman Sergeant [name given] would call. He wouldn’t go and arrest the drivers—he would call and tell them there is a warrant for you—come into the station. When they go to the station he would tell them how much pending warrants they have.”
The driver said that the officer “would never actually show them the warrant, he would tell them how much they have to pay”.
“The line he uses is ‘me and you are friends; give me some more, and then he would mark on the receipt the smaller amount—and he would take the rest of money. The people are afraid… they are daily drivers on the road; that is their daily bread. If the police start targeting them, how would they work?”
“He taking the money don’t destroy the warrant and put it aside, so whenever again they raise the warrant—you will have to pay again… a double money.”
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