The Major Organised Crime and Anti-corruption Agency (MOCA) arrested at least four people this morning in connection with a fraud scheme targeting Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited.

MOCA says its agents are now at four locations in Kingston and St. Andrew, carrying out search and seizure procedures as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of forgery and fraudulent payments involving contractors and employees of the company.

According to MOCA, the scheme allegedly took place between 2016 and April 2019.

During this period, it is alleged that contractors employed by Sagicor Group, acting in collusion with employees of the company, submitted multiple Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) and invoices for work purportedly completed at properties owned or managed by Sagicor Property Services.

It is further alleged that payments were subsequently made based on the fraudulent documents.

MOCA says the scheme unravelled in April 2019, when an IPC and accompanying invoices were submitted by the owner of a construction company for payment.

During the processing of these documents, it was discovered that they had been forged, including the signatures of authorized signing officers.

MOCA says its investigation into the matter later revealed a deliberate and systematic attempt to defraud the company, resulting in this morning’s arrests.