PRESIDENT OF the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Raymond Tim Kee insisted yesterday that an alleged fraudulent matter involving a representative of the local governing body is being investigated by the Fraud Squad.
The matter stemmed from an arrangement made between the Ministry of Tourism and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) ahead of the Soca Warriors friendly with World Cup finalists Argentina.
In a story on a local sporting website, it was reported that a sum of $900,000 was disbursed by the Ministry of Tourism to the TTFA for the payment for a chartered plane for the June 4 friendly in Buenos Aires.
Overall, the Ministry spent $2.1 million on the venture, which served to market the twin-island republic in the South American nation, days before the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in neighbouring Brazil.
However, it was alleged that $400,000 went missing and was allegedly pocketed by an official working on behalf of the TTFA.
The official, the report stated, collected the monies in batches of $200,000 apiece but, in the two-part story, vehemently denied receiving the cash and stressed that (the official’s) signatures on the invoices were forged.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Tim Kee said, “there was an arrangement among the Ministry of Tourism, the (TTFA) and a tour operating company. “While in Argentina, there was a (scenario) which provoked some questions,” he added.
“I immediately told the general secretary (Sheldon Phillips) to launch an investigation into the things I heard and do a report. When he came to Trinidad, where most of the information has been lodged, he pursued what I told him, he got some audited reports and he did a full report for me.
Tim Kee continued, “in conversation with the contents of the report, I told him to prepare a file which must go to the Fraud Squad.”
The file was completed and sent to the Fraud Squad.
Tim Kee made it clear that “coming out of those allegations that I asked for the report to be done and sent to the Police.”
Tourism Minister Gerald Hadeed, when contacted yesterday, stated, “basically, I will be making a statement to that on (December) 4 so you will get it on that date.”
Asked if the statement will be delivered during a sitting of Parliament, he replied, “yes.”
He refused to make any further comment on the matter.
Also remaining mum on the issue was TTFA general secretary Sheldon Phillips.
“Right now I’m concentrating on the match (between TT and Ecuador women teams on December 2),” said the TTFA general secretary. “A statement will be coming forth shortly, before the week is up."