Former Manchester secretary manager to appear in court on fraud charges
Published:Wednesday | July 12, 2017 | 10:15 AM
Former Secretary Manager at the Manchester Parish Council, David Harris, is to appear in court today in relation to the alleged fraud scheme uncovered at the local authority last year.
Harris was arrested and charged last week with breaches of the Forgery and Anti-Corruption acts.
The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) said the arrest came after further investigations were into the racket.
His arrest brings to three the number of persons charged in relation to the scheme.
Former Deputy Superintendent of Road and Works at the parish council, Sanja Elliott and carpenter, Dwayne Sibblies, are before the court for their alleged involvement in the scheme.
They are charged with conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.
In early 2016, investigators launched a probe into allegations that employees of the Manchester Parish Council were using their positions to commit acts of corruption and fraud.
By June, detectives from MOCA, the Financial Investigations Division and officers from the Office of the Contractor General conducted an operation at the parish council, during which several documents, electronic devices and monies were seized.
Elliot and Sibblies were subsequently arrested and charged.