TWO 50-year-old men have been arrested on suspicion of fraud as part of an investigation by police into alleged financial irregularities at Torfaen council’s flagship data centre in Blaenavon.
Free Press sister paper the South Wales Argus revealed last month that Gwent Police was investigating the Shared Resource Service.
The Shared Resource Service, known as the SRS, is based at Victoria House on the Gilchrist Thomas Industrial Estate in Blaenavon and opened in February.
The centre is a joint project between Torfaen and Monmouthshire councils and holds the data of the two local authorities and of Gwent Police and the Aneurin Bevan Health Board.
In a letter to its employees last month, Torfaen council said it and Gwent Police were investigating a number of allegations regarding the running of the SRS.
It told the Argus that one of its employees is part of an ongoing investigation on suspicion of alleged financial irregularities and confirmed a council employee had been suspended.
The Argus later learnt that Torfaen council officer Farooq Dastgir had been suspended from his post as director of the Shared Resource Service.
A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said its investigation into the SRS is ongoing and that two 50-year-old men from the South Wales area have been arrested on suspicion of fraud in connection with the investigation.
They have been bailed pending further enquiries.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article