Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

A MAJOR scandal could be on the horizon in western Jamaica's football, as The Gleaner has been reliably informed that the Area One Fraud Squad has been called in to investigate a series of suspicious transactions involving the accounts of the Western Referees Group (WRG).

Indications are that persons, including major players in the region's football, have been writing cheques on the account of the WRG without the requisite authorisation. The cheques include one for $7,000, which was encashed, and another for $1.1 million, which was apparently intercepted by a bank.

Everol Jenkins, the treasurer of the WRG, verified that photocopies of the questionable cheques, which The Gleaner has secured, were legitimate copies of the original cheques. Jenkins also confirmed that a photocopy of a bank statement which showed that the $7,000 cheque was encashed was authentic.

"It is true, the transactions were done by persons without the required authorisation. So, naturally, we have turned over the matter to the fraud squad," said Jenkins.

"The only persons authorised to do bank transactions on behalf of the WRG are myself, as treasurer, Christopher Mitchell, the assistant treasurer, and our chairman, Texchus Nembhard," he said.

Former members

When WRG chairman Nembhard, who is a sergeant of police, was contacted for a comment, he said based on what he had seen and heard, some of the authorising signatures belonged to former members of the group and persons who had no ties with the group.

"These cheques were written between April and May 2007, and nobody outside of myself as chairman, my treasurer and assistant treasurer has the authority to sign any cheques," said Nembhard. "There could be more to it, especially in regard to the $1.1 million cheque, as we have never had that sort of money in our account."

Sgt. Carl Brown of the Area One Fraud Squad confirmed that the matter had come to his attention, but declined to give any details in regard to what was being done.

"I can confirm that the matter has been brought to the attention of the fraud squad," said Brown. "Outside of that, let us say we are waiting to be properly instructed."

With all the alleged incriminating documentation in the hands of the WRG and the police, it is anticipated that the names of the persons who are involved could be made public soon.

"We have done what we needed to do in terms of bringing the matter to the attention of the police," said Jenkins. "So let us see what will happen from here on."