Gov’t employee arrested and charged in tax racket

Rhemalee Wint-Lewis, a tax auditor in the employ of the TAJ, was arrested on September 14 following a joint multi-agency operation between Revenue Protection Department (RPD), with assistance from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA).

According to a media release from the RPD, it is allege that Wint-Lewis “informed a taxpayer that there was an audit being conducted on their business, which showed a preliminary assessment in the amount of $20M.”

“It is further alleged that she asked the taxpayer for a meeting to discuss the matter in private. During this and subsequent meetings, Mrs. Wint-Lewis offered to reduce the audit significantly by various means.

“She reportedly demanded $3M and a Honda CRV as payment. A September 14 date was set for a meeting with the taxpayer to ensure that the motor vehicle could be transferred without being traced and to collect a portion of the requested monies. A sting operation was set up by the RPD and MOCA, where the accused was held with the money in her possession,” the release stated.

The accused was offered bail in the sum of $400,000 and is to appear in the Manchester Parish Court on October 4, 2023.