Soldiers held after DSS raid released

THE four soldiers who were held on Wednesday for questioning about the alleged removal of money from a house in La Horquetta where $22 million was seized, in a probe of an alleged pyramid scheme, have all been released.

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith told Newsday the men were questioned and released pending further information. He added that he was awaiting a report from the owner of the money to come forward to make a report of theft for anything further to be done.

A home security camera showed a man, identified as a member of the defence force, stuffing an envelope into his crotch while another looked on.

Newsday has been informed that the envelope had approximately $25,000 which was supposed to be part of a payout based on a $3500 investment.

At the police weekly media briefing on Thursday, Griffith said the matter was being investigated although there was no report from anyone about money missing. He said because of the prominence the matter got, it needed to be investigated.

When the men were taken into custody, Griffith told Newsday there was an attempt at collusion by the soldiers with “everybody trying to cover for the other.”

He added: “They tried the ploy of saying they did not know which soldier it was."

He said then he was taking full control of the investigations as a result. The four held were the only soldiers on the operation that day.