Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green, in charge of the Serious and Organised Crime Branch, said he was not happy with the legislation on the books with regards to the custodial sentences on fraud.

Les Green seems to be highlighting the St James lotto scam, which is seen as the 'ghetto scam', but is silent on the numerous fraud being perpetrated on the Jamaican people by some entities. These scams are, however, considered 'white collar scams', so the loud cry for long and harsh custodial sentences is deafening.

Fraud is fraud, no matter who commits it, so the lotto scammers in St James shouldn't be singled out as the only ones fleecing people out of their hard-earned money. The owners of these Ponzi scheme-type investments companies are allowed to operate freely because of their close connections to important players in Jamaica.

Companies which cheat the Government out of customs fees and taxes, collected on behalf of the State, should also be singled out as deserving of harsh sentences for their criminal activities.

At the same time, though, the Serious and Organised Crime Branch is doing a wonderful job investigating and prosecuting persons and companies committing fraud, so they should be lauded for their continued efforts in pursuing these criminal activities.

I am, etc.,

Stewart Young

stewartyoung11@hotmail.com