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| NEWS > 16 August 2007 |
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An indispensable part of polic
The government appears to be dragging its feet over the key recommendation of the Royal Commission looking into the operations of the police. The IPCMC Coalition explains why we urgently need an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.
Background
The Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police (Police Commission) was set up by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 4 February 2004. The establishment of the Police Commission was seen as Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s positive response to public concerns over re... Read more
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NJ Blog - New Jersey,USA
16 August 2007
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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Hillside Police Department, NJ
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Cop indicted in corruption pro
A Hillside police officer was charged yesterday with passing bribes to a state official so he and his girlfriend could steal funds from a program intended to help needy Union County families in danger of becoming homeless.
Hillside Officer Vitor "Victor" Pedreiras, 30, is also accused of coaching his girlfriend on how to lie to state investigators once they uncovered the scheme to bilk $14,963 from the housing program offered by the state Department of Community Affairs, authorities said.
Pedreiras, who was assigned to the department's community safety bureau, became a police officer after graduating in Dec. 2003 from the John H. Stamler Police Academy. He was suspended after a state grand jury indictment was handed up late Tuesday.
He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of conspiracy, bribery and official misconduct, according to the indictment. He was also indicted on charges of theft, falsifying records, witness tampering and hindering prosecution.
"This police officer had a duty to report this fraudulent scheme, but instead he allegedly joined in," said state Criminal Justice Director Gregory Paw. "He is now facing a number of serious charges."
Attorney Anthony Fusco said Pedreiras has "maintained his innocence" since state prosecutors began questioning him several months ago.
"He's not interested in any plea bargain so it's going to be a trial," Fusco said. "We're pretty confident."
Pedreiras' former girlfriend, Joana Pereira, 25, who worked as a landlord in Union County, pleaded guilty on Feb. 21 to theft by deception for submitting four false applications to the state Homelessness Prevention Program.
The police officer is accused of being involved in all four of those applications even though his name is listed on only one of them, authorities said.
Pedreiras is 10th person to be caught up in the state's investigation into the Homelessness Prevention Program. The other nine have pleaded guilty to various charges.
The program provides about $4.5 million a year statewide to pay two months of rent for families who, through no fault of their own, could become homeless. On average, families get more than $2,000 in assistance.
The DCA administrator responsible for the program in Union, Robin Wheeler-Hicks, has pleaded guilty to accepting more than $40,000 in bribes to funnel $866,560 from the program to her family and friends. She will be sentenced to seven years in prison under a plea deal that guarantees her cooperation in identifying accomplices.
Two other DCA employees have admitted guilt in the case. Technical assistant Clarice Patterson of Roselle and senior clerk Florence Glenn, formerly of Whiting, pleaded guilty to a charge of official misconduct for taking kickbacks to help Wheeler-Hicks. The state will recommend the two get probation as long as they pay restitution.
Authorities have acknowledged the system was ripe for corruption. In an effort to cut through bureaucratic red tape, it relied solely on the discretion of field officers to review and approve rent applications.
The department now requires several supervisors to review applications before a check is cut.
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