MOCA issues warning to renters
IN light of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Transactions) Act, 2013, the Major Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) is alerting the public to be extremely vigilant for people who are renting properties in upscale communities in order to carry out illegal activities.
Detective Inspector Antoinette Morrison, press officer for MOCA, says the agency has noticed the worrying trend of people, particularly those involved in lottery scamming, renting upscale AirBnB apartments, and using these premises as a staging ground for their crimes.
“We want people to be aware of these persons and their activities,” says Morrison, “not only to alert them to the practice, but also to inform or remind them that under the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Transactions) Act, they themselves can be arrested and charged, if found to be aiding and abetting the commission of these criminal activities by knowingly allowing the use of their premises.”
Under the Act, which came into effect on March 28, 2013 (amended on April 7, 2014), it is an offence for the “owner, occupier or any other person responsible for the management of any premises… to permit the premises to be used for any purpose which constitutes an offence.” If found guilty, such persons could face up to 15 years in prison.
Det Insp Morrison was quick to point out that it is very important that landlords take reasonable precautions before and whilst letting their premises, as willful blindness towards the criminal activities of tenants will not absolve them from prosecution.
Since the start of the year, MOCA has made several arrests of people involved in lottery scamming, and seized a number of identity cards, electronic devices and other paraphernalia related to the crime. Recently, the agency signed an MOU with the Financial Investigation Division (FID) as part of a collaborative effort to fight major organised crime.
MOCA is urging members of the public who have information on people involved in lottery scamming, corruption and other major organised crime, to submit this information via the MOCA Online Tip Portal at www.moca.gov.jm.