Two arrested in Port of Spain City Corporation payroll fraud and money laundering probe

A salary clerk and her common-law husband face money laundering charges following a payroll fraud investigation at the Port of Spain City Corporation.

Two charged over payroll fraud at Port of Spain City Corporation

Two people have been charged in connection with a payroll fraud and money laundering investigation at the Port of Spain City Corporation, guardian.co.tt reports.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service said a 43-year-old self-employed man from Upper Santa Cruz was charged on Sunday night with money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He is the common-law husband of a salary clerk at the Corporation, who had been charged the previous week.

The clerk was arrested on September 4 at the Corporation's offices on Knox and Frederick Streets by officers of the Financial Investigations Branch. She faces charges of obtaining money by false pretence totalling $29,174.50, as well as money laundering for receiving $14,210.50 believed to be criminal property.

The investigation began in September 2024 after an accountant at the Corporation identified discrepancies in the payroll system. Further checks revealed that National Insurance deductions had been recorded for individuals who were not employed at the time. Investigators allege the clerk manipulated the system to approve unauthorised salary payments, which were then deposited into her personal bank account and into an account belonging to her partner.

Between June and September 2024, the second suspect allegedly received $14,964 in fraudulent payments, despite holding no employment at the Corporation.

Source: Google News TT — Port of Spain