Former Education Minister Ruel Reid and Others Arrested in Corruption Probe

Arrests Made Following Search Warrant

Just two days after Jamaica’s opposition party, the People’s National Party (PNP) threatened to take action if the government did not provide an update on corruption investigations, Former Education Minister Ruel Ried and several others were arrested.

At about 5:00 AM on the morning of October 9, police detectives showed up at the house of the former minister with a warrant to search the premises. Following the search, it is reported that Reid, his wife, Sharen, and their daughter, Sharelle were all arrested and taken into custody.

At the same time, police also paid visits to the homes of President of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) Professor Fritz Pinnock and Brown’s Town Division Councillor Kim Brown Lawrence, who were also arrested.

Search and Arrests Conducted by MOCA and FID

The police say they seized several documents and electronic devices that could be used as possible evidence in the criminal investigation.

The Major Organised Crime Agency (MOCA), the Financial Investigation Division (FID) and the Constabulary Financial Unit of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Division (CTOC) began conducting a criminal probe into Ruel Reid and company after allegations of corruption, fraud and misappropriation of public funds involving the Ministry of Education and the CMU came to light in March.

Following the allegations, Reid was fired by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and he then resigned from the Senate that same day. Just yesterday, Pinnock was sent on special leave with immediate effect pending the outcome of the probe.

In a news release, MOCA said that the search and consequent arrests were to “target the main suspects implicated in a multi-million dollar corruption and fraudulent schemes perpetrated by the Ministry of Education, Caribbean Maritime Institute and other government entities falling under the portfolio responsibility of Mr. Ruel Reid, former Senator and Minister of Government.”

Director of Public Prosecutions Reacts to Arrests

After the arrests this morning, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn said that her office was not further consulted prior to the move to take Reid and others into custody.

In July, Llewellyn found that four criminal laws may have been breached by “key players” in the Ruel Reid- CMU corruption case. She recommended further investigations but said the decision whether to arrest and charge any of the accused and place them before the court rested with the police and other investigative bodies.

PNP Leader Calls for Transparency and Integrity

The arrest of the former Minister now honors one of the requests made by PNP leader, Dr. Peter Phillips.

At a media conference on October 7, leader of the PNP, Dr. Peter Phillips called for the government to provide a status report on several corruption scandals including corruption at the Ministry of Education as well as the PetroJam scandal.

“We expect that these reports should be forthcoming within 30 days and a timeline must be given to the public to show the government’s commitment to transparency and integrity”, Dr. Phillips said.

Earlier this year, the PNP staged an anti-corruption protest in Kingston to shed light on the allegations of corruption, but not much progress has been made in the other investigations since then.

Conclusion

The arrests of Ruel Reid and others mark a significant step forward in the corruption probe, but it remains to be seen what further action will be taken. The government has been under pressure to provide transparency and accountability in its dealings, and this development may be a sign of a shift towards greater accountability.

FAQs

* Who was arrested in the corruption probe?
+ Ruel Reid, former Education Minister, and several others, including his wife and daughter, as well as Professor Fritz Pinnock and Kim Brown Lawrence.
* What were the allegations against Ruel Reid and others?
+ Corruption, fraud, and misappropriation of public funds involving the Ministry of Education and the Caribbean Maritime University.
* What is the next step in the investigation?
+ The police and other investigative bodies will continue to investigate and gather evidence, and the Director of Public Prosecutions will review the case to determine whether to charge the accused.
* What is the reaction of the PNP leader to the arrests?
+ Dr. Peter Phillips, leader of the PNP, has called for the government to provide a status report on several corruption scandals, including corruption at the Ministry of Education, and has praised the arrests as a step towards greater accountability.