SUSPECTS QUIZZED IN ‘$200k’ NIB FRAUD

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force is expected to charge several people today over allegations of fraud at the National Insurance Board.

Officer-in-charge of Financial Crime Investigations Chief Superintendent Matthew Edgecombe said several suspects were assisting police.

NIB officials did not respond to Tribune inquiries yesterday. However, The Tribune was told the investigation looked into how a ring of people in New Providence and Andros allegedly defrauded NIB’s unemployment programme.

The fraud amount is allegedly somewhere in the vicinity of $200,000 and involves 13 people, sources close to the matter told The Tribune.

However, according to those sources, this number is expected to grow.

“The Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Financial Crimes Investigation Branch is conducting an investigation into a complaint of fraud at the National Insurance Board,” Chief Superintendent Edgecombe said in a brief statement.

“As a result of those investigations, we have a number of suspects that are assisting with this investigation.

“Those suspects are expected to be arraigned in Magistrate’s court. . .on Monday.”

In a separate fraud related matter, a woman is expected to be charged today in relation to alleged theft at the Post Office.

The arraignments are scheduled for noon, police said.

Comments

hrysippus says...

So someone noticed the tip of this iceberg. Good.

Posted 28 September 2020, 7:56 a.m. Suggest removal

KapunkleUp says...

I am actually surprised NIB has $200K left to tief. As many “loans” as they are handing out to other government agencies, there is probably very little actual cash left.

Posted 28 September 2020, 12:37 p.m. Suggest removal

jamaicaproud says...

People are hurting, the system is strapped and people try this. Heartless... Well allegedly.
In any event the whole operation seems to have cost more than stolen. Plus they will be piled up in one place and perhaps help to transmit Coro.,, Hmmmm The leaders of the vested entity should be fired for having slack systems in place.

Posted 28 September 2020, 9:43 a.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

LOL at $200,000. NIB fraud each year is in the millions, not thousands, of dollars.

Posted 28 September 2020, 10:16 a.m. Suggest removal

joeblow says...

This is just some FNM's ratting out some PLP's before the announcement of a possible early election! No news here!

Posted 28 September 2020, 10:24 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

**Forego the 200,000 couple shillings pocket change** for the calling-in of an **independent non-governmental team forensic investigators** to dig deep and wide into where, and to who all benefited **directly, or indirectly** from the **Billions of Pounds** spent and forgiven, just since the **12:01 am hour** of May 11, 2017? **Shakehead** once for Yeah, Twice for Not?

Posted 28 September 2020, 5:29 p.m. Suggest removal

Log in to comment