Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 23, 2016 News
— As prosecution file statements
Opposition parliamentarian, Dr. Jennifer Westford, and her former Personal Assistant, Margaret Cummings, yesterday denied that they stole over $639M, while being employed in the Public Service.
This was after the women were allowed to plead to a total of 24 charges which alleges that they stole the money between August 2011 and April 2015.
The duo pleaded not guilty to the allegations before City Magistrate Judy Latchman, after the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) was applied by the court. It was just three weeks ago, that Dr. Westford and Cummings were each released on $4.8M bail, after being slapped with the charges.
The prosecution led by Police Corporal, Bharat Mangru, has also filed statements in relation to this matter.
Westford of Lot 55 ‘AA’ Victoria Avenue Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Cummings, a mother of three, of 709 Section A Diamond EBD are being represented by a team of attorneys; Rexford McKay S.N.C and Attorneys Mr. Neil Boston, Keisha Chase, Eusi Anderson, Bibi Shadick, Brandon Glasford and Dexter Todd.
According to court facts, Westford was employed as Minister of Public Service from 2001-2015, while her co-accused was the Principal Personnel Officer of the Ministry. Cummings was also in charge of the Ministry’s accounts department.
It was discovered that on 24 occasions Westford signed memoranda amounting to $639,420,000 and sent them to the Office of the President for approval. Approval was granted and cheques were prepared and encashed by Bank of Guyana.
The monies were requested to carry out various activities throughout the 10 Administrative Regions. However, personnel from the various Regions were contacted and denied ever receiving the cash. Investigations were carried out but the monies were never recovered and the two were arrested and charged.
In relation to this matter, Westford and Cummings were ordered to return to court on March 22.
The former Minister of Public Service and her former Personal Assistant Margaret Cummings were charged last August for allegedly attempting to transfer eight state vehicles and forging documents for the purchase of the vehicles.
They pleaded not guilty to the allegations. Westford is currently facing four charges of attempted larceny in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. She was released on a total of $800,000 bail.
The charges alleged that between July 17, 2014 and June 23, 2015, she attempted to transfer eight state vehicles to four persons. Margaret Cummings was also slapped with four counts of forgery. Cummings is alleged to have forged documents for the purchase of the eight motor vehicles. She has been released on a total of $1.2M bail.
This matter is still engaging the attention of the court.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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