By Sue-Ann Wayow
A FORMER cashier at the Ministry of National Security has been charged with fraud following an internal audit.
Kavita Maharaj was arrested last Thursday by officers of the Fraud Squad and formally charged on Sunday with one count of Embezzlement by a Public Servant.
Maharaj had reportedly been absent from duty since 2024 and had not been formally suspended at the time of the alleged offences. Her duties included the collection of cash payments for services such as work permits and the remittance of those funds to the ministry, a release from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated on Monday.
An internal audit conducted by the ministry revealed discrepancies in financial records between January 2023 and September 2023.
It is alleged that during this period, Maharaj falsified official records and misappropriated approximately $718,000 intended for the Ministry of National Security.
Following a formal report to the Fraud Squad, Acting Corporal Saunders was appointed lead investigator.
His thorough investigative efforts supported by a team coordinated by Senior Superintendent Jackman, Superintendent Lutchman, Assistant Superintendent Thomas and Sergeant Hamilton culminated in the arrest of Maharaj at a residence in Sangre Grande.
She subsequently appeared before Master Indira Chinebass, where she was granted bail in the amount of $450,000.
Bail conditions include mandatory reporting to a specified police station twice per week, and immediate notification to the court of any change in address.
The matter has been adjourned to October 31 for a status hearing.
The TTPS stated, “The TTPS guided by the strategic direction of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Intelligence and Investigations, Suzette Martin and under the oversight of Assistant Commissioner of Police Denis Knutt, Head of the White-Collar Crime Division, will continue to strengthen its efforts and demonstrate its unwavering commitment to tackling white-collar crime in Trinidad and Tobago.
The TTPS also commended the diligent work of Acting Corporal Saunders and all officers who contributed to the complex investigation, including W/Corporal Murray, Corporal Liverpool, Corporal Gadar and PC Thomas.
“This arrest reinforces the TTPS’s steadfast dedication to combating financial crime and preserving public trust in the integrity of the nation’s institutions,” the release stated.
