Monday, July 26 – Vincentian national Simeon Pope was arrested and charged on Friday with three counts of obtaining property by deception.

His arrest was as a result of a number of allegations made against him (this Public Works employee) by members of the public that he obtained (took) money under false pretenses.

From reports received by the Criminal Investigations Unit of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, it is alleged that Pope was collecting money from members of the public for the purchase of used Government owned vehicles.  Each complainant gave cash down payments as he requested but were never given the vehicles.  The complainants made reports to the Police after they did not receive the vehicles they paid for nor were they reimbursed their down payments.

Presently, the Procurement Unit of the Ministry of Finance is solely responsible for all sales of Government property.

Pope is scheduled to appear at the Magistrate’s Court today, Monday to face the above mentioned charges.