A motor vehicle Inspector I and a Temporary Clerk I employed with the Licensing Division, Caroni, have been slapped with charges of Misbehaviour in Public Office, arising out of a collaborative exercise between the Fraud Squad of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the Transport Commissioner, Mr. Clive Clarke.
The Transport Commissioner has taken a zero-tolerance approach to corrupt practices within the Licensing Division and promises that this is one of many investigations to follow.
ERROL SUPERSAD, 49, a motor vehicle Inspector I, of Cunupia, and SUDESH RADHAKISSOON, 27, a Temporary Clerk I, employed with the Licensing Division, Caroni, also of Cunupia, were charged with Misbehaviour in Public Office, while ADRIAN MOHAMMED, 51, an information computer technician, of La Romain, was charged with two counts of uttering forged documents arising out of the investigation.
The victim reported to police that in June 2022, he being the registered owner of a black-coloured Nissan Navara motor vehicle, visited the Licensing Office at Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, to verify some information in relation to the vehicle. There, he was informed that the vehicle was allegedly transferred to another person. The victim denied selling or transferring the vehicle or authorising anyone to do so on his behalf.
A report of the matter was made to the Transport Commissioner who forwarded the report to the Fraud Squad.
Investigations revealed that a Senior Licensing Officer and a Temporary Clerk I had allegedly fraudulently and corruptly prepared, signed and submitted transfer forms and other supporting documents in relation to the transfer of the vehicle in question.
An exercise coordinated jointly by Snr. Supt. Groome and Transport Commissioner Clarke and spearheaded by Insp. Damian Thomas, resulted in three suspects being arrested on Monday 2nd October, 2023, by officers of the Fraud Squad.
The trio was charged by PC Woodroffe of the Fraud Squad on Wednesday 4th October, 2023, following advice received from Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Dougdeen-Jaglal, on that same date.
Supersad and Radhakissoon were each granted bail in the sum of $100,000 with surety by a Justice of the Peace, while Mohammed was granted bail in the sum of $120,000 to cover the two charges.
The men are to appear in the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court on October 24th, 2023.
Members of the public are urged to continue their vigilance for corrupt practices at all public institutions and make a report to the police so perpetrators can be brought to justice.