− Public Service Ministry multimillion-dollar fraud

Almost three months after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) returned 24 files on the multi-million dollar fraud allegation at the Public Service Ministry to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), seven of these files were returned to the DPP Chambers for legal advice.

According to a media statement from the DPP Chambers on Friday, it is in possession of seven of the 24 police files in regards to investigations of fraud allegedly committed by Former Minister of Public Service Dr Jennifer Westford and her Personal Assistant Margaret Cummings.

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack

Guyana Times understands these seven files were received at the DPP’s Office on Wednesday last.

“On September 7, 2Ol5, the GPF had initially sent 24 files for legal advice. After due legal attention was given to these 24 files, these files were returned with legal advice to the GPF because of incomplete investigations. On October 29, 2015 the 24 police files were again sent by the police to these Chambers,” the release said.

It was noted that again, after due legal attention, the 24 files were dispatched to the GPF on November 24 and November 30, 2015 with legal advice for police investigations to be completed and for the police files to be returned to the DPP Chambers for further legal advice.

It must be reminded that DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack had returned the files to the Police on September 30, asking for several statements contained in the files to be clarified.

Guyana Times understands that at that time the DPP had asked that investigators clarify certain aspects of the statements provided by persons reportedly under investigation.

Hence, these persons were required to return to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters to have their statements revised.

After months of intense investigations, Police wrapped up the probe on September 7 and the files were sent to the DPP Chamber the same day for legal advice on the way forward.

Back in July, the Fraud Branch was called in to investigate allegations of a multimillion-dollar fraud at the Ministry.
This was done after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration had discovered more than $120 million missing from the Public Service Ministry’s bank account.

However, reports indicate that during the probe, investigators found in excess of $400 million missing.
The probe focused on records dating back two years.

Sources told Guyana Times that funds were requested from the then Office of the President for various services and programmes at the Ministry, but no records were found to show that monies were spent on such.

This newspaper was told that former subject Minister Dr Jennifer Westford and her Personal Assistant Margaret Cummings were said to be at the centre of the probe. Both women were questioned by investigators on the missing funds.

On July 29, the day before the probe commenced, both Westford and Cummings appeared before the court on fraud charges in relation to the alleged illegal transfer of several State-owned vehicles to private ownership.

The former Minister and her personal assistant were granted bail in the sums of $800,000 and $1.2 million respectively.
The transfer of the Ministry vehicles was uncovered following a request from Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority Khurshid Sattaur, who had written the Public Service Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Hydar Ally, requesting that he re-issue a letter, dated April 14, 2015, requesting the transfer of registration for eight vehicles into the names of Westford, Wayne Walker, Delroy Lewis, Gary Beaton (Westford’s spouse) and Osbert McPherson.

A change of registration for two vehicles for Walker was sought; one for Lewis; one for Westford; three for Beaton and one for McPherson. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)