MOCA hits marks
Agency focuses on key FLA employees; explosive letter alleges rampant corruption
POLICE INVESTIGATORS are narrowing down on key employees at the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) in an expanding corruption probe at the scandal-hit agency, which remains without a board.
The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) has been given names of persons of interest identified in the investigation being conducted by the Office of the Contractor General (OCG), a source close to the police probe has told The Gleaner.
Those names go with the list already prepared by MOCA, which, last week, visited the FLA’s Old Hope Road head office twice to remove files critical to the probe into allegations that more than 100 licences have been issued to people of questionable character. MOCA has said that it does not speak on ongoing matters.
DAMNING ALLEGATIONS
The developments come as an explosive May 17, 2017 letter with damning allegations against senior FLA officials makes the rounds. The letter was allegedly penned by a staff member of the beleaguered agency, whose board resigned last month as public pressure mounted over its alleged role in the scandal.
The letter was sent to Contractor General Dirk Harrison, but was copied to the prime minister’s office; National Security Minister Robert Montague; his opposition counterpart, Peter Bunting; and then FLA chairman Dennis Wright.
The staff member named five FLA officials as the architects of “rife and blatant” corruption at the agency, where they allegedly “abuse, intimidate and bully” staff. It would be “devastating” if leaked to the media, the whistle-blower said.
“It was my intention to write to the FLA about the issue of corruption involving persons currently employed to the FLA,” wrote the “concerned employee”, who pointed to the manipulation of systems and romantic involvement of the “loyal cohorts” of the named chief enabler. “These persons should have no business being associated with the FLA. I chose to write to you as I am not confident that anything would come of my concerns.”