Man remanded for Finance Ministry fraud

Apr 17, 2011 News

Ministry of Finance Public Service supervisor, Lawrence Dundas, of Lot 35 David Street Subryanville, Georgetown, was on Friday remanded after he allegedly embezzled over $1.6 million in pension funds due to Marian Patterson.
According to Inspector, Stephen Telford, some time between March 22 and October 8, 2010, the accused being empowered as a supervisor in the Public Service Section of the Finance Ministry converted to his own use the money which was in the form of a cheque.
He thus feloniously stole from the state, the prosecutor said.  The accused who was represented by attorney at-law Mortimer Coddett, was not required to plead.
In his bail application, Coddett requested that bail be granted to his client in a sensible sum.   Thus bail was objected to by the prosecution, sighting the prevalence of the offence.
Telford added that a stern message should be sent to persons who might want to commit such unlawful acts.
Magistrate Beharry refused bail and ordered that the matter will be called again on May 6.
And the witness tapering case against television talk show host, C.N. Sharma, and his associates Ravi Mangar, Raywattie Ramsaywack and Doodnauth, continued yesterday before Magistrate Geeta Edmond-Chandan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
That charge arose from the previous allegation of carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 12 which CN Sharma is being implicated in.
The proceedings saw state-appointed prosecutor, Sanjeev Datadin, making an application for the statements of the witnesses be served to the court and the defence with a view to having the court consider these exhibits (statements) for the committal of the accused to stand trial in the court.
Attorney at-law Nigel Hughes who is part of the defence, requested that when such exhibits are brought to the court the defence would like to be heard.
Following those announcements, Magistrate Chandan-Edmond adjourned the hearing to consult with the legislation to enquire if the prosecution’s application should be granted or overruled. May 6, will see the case being heard again.
On the last occasion, Datadin called frail looking chief witness, Tareesa Dhanraj, to the witness stand. At that point the prosecutor began to examine her. Dhanraj who appeared to be quite nervous related her name to the court in a very low tone before she collapsed.
The accused were all charged with obstruction of justice on April 23 last year.