WESTERN BUREAU:

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has suspended two of its employees who were arrested in Montego Bay, St James, yesterday afternoon for allegedly collecting money from a customer with an irregularity at his business place.

"The employees have been suspended from their duties immediately, pending JPS's internal investigation into the matter," Winsome Callum, head of corporate communication at JPS, said in a release.

The light and power company also indicated its intention to assist the police in their investigation.

The Gleaner understands that the employees went to a business place in Montego Bay, where they negotiated a fee of $50,000 in exchange for them not to report the irregularity.

They were asked to return for the money.

Zero-tolerance approach

The businessman alerted the police and, on the workers' return some time after 3 p.m., they were accosted while collecting the money.

The JPS release also quoted president and chief executive officer, Damian Obiglio, as saying the company has a "zero-tolerance approach to illegal activities among employees".

Thirty JPS employees have been dismissed in the last two years for illegal activities, ranging from theft, misuse of company's assets, fraud, aiding and abetting electricity theft, collusion with contractors to defraud the company, and accepting bribes.