The police have confirmed that a major fraud case has been uncovered at the Accountant General's Department in downtown Kingston.

Damion Brown, a supervisor who worked in the pensions department, has since been charged in connection with the case.

It is reported that over the past two and a half years, Brown swindled millions of dollars in pension cheques that were drawn in the names of dead pensioners.

The Gleaner/Power 106 News has been informed that the supervisor, claiming the pensioners were unable to sign the cheques to have them cashed, fraudulently added the names of some of his relatives.

Between 2006 and January of this year when he was caught, he allegedly routed the cheques through his relatives' bank accounts each month.

Unfamiliar persons

The Gleaner/Power 106 News understands the breach was discovered last month while Brown was on vacation leave and the relatives of the dead pensioners turned up at the accountant general's department to report that they had received cheques for their loved ones. In addition, the cheques carried the names of unfamiliar persons.

An investigation was subsequently launched and the police called in.

It is reported that investigations have so far determined that cheques amounting to $9 million were drawn between 2006 and 2007.

Gleaner/Power 106 News sources said that, in December last year, $750,000 was defrauded in pension payments.