Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed that the Criminal Investigation Department is investigating financial improprieties at the Deeds and Commercial Registries that dates back to 2014.
Via telephone, with this newscast, the Crime Chief said the investigations started sometime last week and one person was questioned. The individual he said denied any wrongdoing. He also said that his department is looking to complete the matter as quickly as possible.
A release from the Office of Legal Affairs Ministry today said it forwarded the CID complaints of financial improprieties involving the acting Registrar of Deed and Commercial Registries Azeena Baksh.
According to the release, the Ministry staff members attached to the two registries accused the Registrar of paying herself gratuity which she was not entitled to since she is a pensionable employee.
Starting in 2014, she has been paying herself a higher salary that agreed to by the Judicial Service Commission.
The increases amounted to some $4.5 million. The Registrar is also being accused of unlawfully granting a waiver of 7,044,000 to a lawyer. The lawyer was said to have paid over to the Registry $8.5 million.