Two long-time Bahamasair ticket agents could be facing charges before the courts as the airline’s officials investigate the alleged theft of thousands of dollars from customers of the national flag carrier, The Bahama Journal has learnt.
On Tuesday, Bahamasair Managing Director Henry Woods told the Bahama Journal that the matter could not be discussed with the press because it was an internal one, which is being investigated.
He did not confirm whether funds were missing from Bahamasair.
“It is under investigation. It is a matter that is under review, but at this time we canﾒt confirm that it is fraud. We canﾒt confirm that money was stolen from the company. There are a few discrepancies and our finance department is looking into the matter as we speak,” Mr. Woods said.
“The matter is under review involving two female employees.”
Airline officials are reportedly seeking to determine whether any fraud took place through the use of credit cards.
According to an airline source, a board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, and at that time board members are expected to discuss the matter.
Members of Bahamasairﾒs board include Chairman Basil Sands, Al Collie, Sidney Cambridge, Gregory Moss, Alfred Stewart, Dr. Anthony Davis, Barbara Hanna-Cox, Mark Finlayson and Melvern Bain.
The Bahama Journal spoke with Mr. Sands, who denied any knowledge of the fraud scheme.
When Mr. Collie was contacted, he referred all questions on that matter to Bahamasair management.
Deputy General Manager of Bahamasair Van Diah, also told the Bahama Journal that he was unaware of any females taking part in such a scheme.
The two women were reportedly terminated from the airline on Monday.
The airline source said officials believe that the perpetrators may have used a frozen credit card to charge tickets while collecting passengersﾒ cash. It was reported that charges amounted to about $36,000.
The card had reportedly been issued to one of the employees involved in the scheme.
The Bahama Journalﾒs airline source claimed that the bank that had issued the credit card eventually caught on to the scheme.
By: Bianca Symonette, The Bahama Journal
