By Sue-Ann Wayow
ANOTHER Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries employee has been charged for land fraud.
Robert Mohammed was charged on Saturday for the offences of forgery and having in possession a certain forged document namely a Commissioner of State Lands authorisation letter in the name Robert Mohammed.
He was granted bail in the sum of $100,000 on Saturday.
According to a police report, during the period April to December 2020, a senior officer at the office of the Commissioner of State Lands, received information and copies of documents purportedly issued and signed by the senior officer, granting several persons permission to occupy State Lands, along with other documents authorising an employee of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Commissioner of State Lands, to enter and inspect premises belonging to the state.
The employee Robert Mohammed was employed as a patrolman and was never authorised to act in the capacity as an inspector.
Last Thursday, a party of officers visited the residence of Mohammed in Barataria, where they executed a search warrant, which allowed for the seizure of several alleged fraudulent documents.
Acting on further information the officers also searched a community garbage bin in close proximity to the residence and recovered several documents purportedly issued by the office of the Commissioner of State Lands, and a stamp and seal.
The officers conducted further enquiries and on Friday and Saturday, Mohammed was further interviewed.
Snr Supt Arlet Groome, ASP Lutchman and ASP Craig led the exercise, which was supervised by Cpl Trim.
On March 14, a ministry’s checker, employed at the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries charged with two counts of misbehaviour in public office, appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate.
Police reported that Jimboy Bruno, 38, of Bon Air, allegedly used his employment with the State to facilitate possible corrupt activities within the Office of the Commissioner of State Lands.
