A regional housing officer was taken into police custody Friday for allegedly converting a sum paid for a plot of land to his personal use.
The Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) housing officer, identified as Omesh Sasenarine, was said to have been taken in for questioning in relation to the alleged fraud matter. The Guyana Chronicle understands that earlier this year, the official had allegedly sold a plot of land to the tune of $50,000 on behalf of the regional office. However instead of issuing an official receipt to the applicant, a personal receipt was provided.

This newspaper further understands that it was only after the land applicant visited the regional office for an update on her property, it was realised that the receipt issued was done in the official’s personal capacity. Checks done by the regional office revealed no record of the land transaction. When the land applicant made further checks at the Central Housing and Planning Authority it was also revealed that no record of the transaction existed. The police was subsequently called in.

Housing officials confirmed that an investigation was ongoing into the matter. They said that the police were called in when they realised that the personal receipt issued was to the tune of $50,000 but no record of the transaction was available. “We don’t know what sum was told to the applicant for the land but we are aware that a personal receipt was issued for the sum of $50, 000,” the newspaper was told. The ministry has also launched its own investigation to ascertain whether other such transactions were made by the housing officer.

Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rupert Hopkinson, told the Guyana Chronicle that he was aware that some alleged fraudulent activity had taken place involving the region’s housing sector but could not provide further details. He said that the matter was brought to his attention that someone had “forged a signature” and investigations were ongoing. While Hopkinson said he was not aware that an arrest was made into the matter, he said he is not surprised, knowing that matter was being looked at.