By Leonard Parker- A longtime MTA construction boss was fired last week after an investigation revealed he arranged jobs for family members on $18 million worth of contracts he oversaw for the agency, The Post has learned.
Ramnarace “Reese” Mahabir, 67, was escorted out of the East New York bus depot by armed guards last Wednesday — two days before he planned to retire in order to avoid punishment, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation.
Mahabir was flagged by the MTA inspector general for arranging for work for his brother and nephew on MTA construction gigs.
The nephew, Ajay Mahabir, was hired by Rising Sun Construction in March 2021 to work as a site safety supervisor on a $14.6 million façade renovation at the East New York bus depot — despite not having the required qualifications for the role, according to documents reviewed by The Post.
Ramnarace “Reese” Mahabir was escorted out of the East New York bus depot by armed guards after he was found to be giving his family jobs.
His father, meanwhile, worked for a different contractor, Monpat Construction, on several MTA bus construction projects, including a $3.9 million job to repair the roof of the Fresh Pond bus depot, sources said refused to show ID to confirm his identity and claimed he did not have his wallet on him.A longtime MTA construction chief was fired last week after an investigation found he arranged jobs for family members on $18 million contracts that he oversaw for the agency, The Post has learned.
Ramnarace “Reese” Mahabir, 67, was escorted by armed guards from the bus depot in East New York last Wednesday — two days before he planned to retire to avoid punishment, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation.
Mahabir was flagged by the MTA Inspector General for getting his brother and nephew to work at MTA construction works.
The nephew, Ajay Mahabir, was hired by Rising Sun Construction in March 2021 to work as a site safety officer on a $14.6 million exterior renovation at the bus terminal in East New York — although he did not have the necessary credentials, according to verified documents Qualifications for the role are provided by the post office.
Ramnarace “Reese” Mahabir was escorted by armed guards from the bus depot in east New York after it was discovered he was giving jobs to his family.
His father, meanwhile, worked for another contractor, Monpat Construction, on several MTA bus construction projects, including a $3.9 million job to repair the roof of Fresh Pond’s bus depot, sources said.
Reese Mahabir, a 34-year MTA veteran, has never indicated any potential conflicts of interest for his supervisors, the investigation said.
MTA officials only uncovered the family’s intrigues on April 29, 2022 – when a contractor’s worker at the site where Ajay Mahabir was in charge of security suffered a broken leg. According to sources, he finally resigned from his position in July.
Reese Mahabir’s farewell party, scheduled for last Friday, was summarily canceled following his dramatic resignation, according to an electronic invitation seen by The Post.
Mahabir, who earned $172,024 in 2021, worked in the capital construction division of the MTA’s bus division until 2020, when he was transferred to headquarters as part of an agency-wide reorganisation.
A source close to the probe said the longtime MTA hacker’s power over the projects he oversaw had caused contractors to be reluctant to refuse jobs to his family members.
“He can make your life difficult if you start losing money,” the source said of Mahabir’s role as contract manager.
Reached by phone, a Monpat representative denied knowledge of the investigation or its findings.
A man who identified himself as one of the owners of Rising Sun Construction declined to comment.
A source close to the probe said the longtime MTA hacker’s power over the projects he oversaw had caused contractors to be reluctant to refuse jobs to his family members. GN Miller/NY Post
“I do not know anything about it. I’m not interested. I don’t know anything about this guy,” the man said.
The MTA confirmed that Mahabir was removed from agency holdings on September 28.
“The MTA does not tolerate actions that violate all agency codes of ethics, the NYS Public Officer’s Law and the public trust,” agency official Michael Cortez said in a statement. “This employee is no longer employed by the MTA.”
Mahabir, who was approached outside his Queens home, claimed to be a relative as he jumped into what multiple sources confirmed was his brand new BMW SUV.
He refused to show ID to confirm his identity and claimed he did not have his wallet with him.
“You got the wrong guy. I am a relative,” Mahabir said. “He moved to Florida yesterday.” (LocalTodayNews)
