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Dr. Westford to go on trial tomorrow
Dr. Jennifer Westford
City Magistrate Judy Latchman will commence the trial of Dr. Jennifer Westford and Ms. Margaret Cummings in relation to the misappropriation of over $600M from the State tomorrow in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The charges allege that between August 2011 and April 2015, while being employed in the Public Service of the Government of Guyana, they stole the sum of $639,420,000 belonging to the state. They allegedly received the money by virtue of their employment.
They denied the allegations and were each released on $4.8 bail.
According to court facts, Westford of Lot 55 ‘AA’ Victoria Avenue Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was employed as Minister of Public Service from 2001-2015, while her co-accused was the principal personnel officer of the Ministry.
Cummings of Lot 709 Section A Diamond, EBD 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 the Bank of Guyana.
The monies were requested to carry out various activities throughout the 10 Administrative
Ms. Margaret Cummings
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.
In addition, 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 allegation. 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 allege 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.
These matters will go on trial from July 11.
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