FORMER Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford and Personnel Secretary Margaret Cummings, in the presence of their lawyer, Eusi Anderson had remained silent when the allegation involving the theft of over $600M from the State of Guyana was put to them.This is according to Detective Inspector Richard Frank who is attached to Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). He testified yesterday when the trial continued before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The policeman testified that he assisted with investigations into a $10M theft and a series of 13 other similar investigations that were going on at the Ministry of Public Service (MPS), which amounted to over $600M.

Frank further explained that on July 2, 2015 he contacted Alvin William, an accountant at the Office of the President (OP), who handed over to him a memorandum from the PSM dated June 7, 2012 captioned ‘financial assistance of Ministry of Public Service evaluation.’

The document was purportedly signed by Dr. Westford. A voucher dated June 8, 2012 payable to Westford personnel Secretary, Margaret Cummings for the sum of $10M was also handed over to Frank.

Additionally, a Bank of Guyana (BoG) cheque dated June 8, 2012 number 05-023815 payable to the permanent secretary of the MPS for the sum of $10.255M was handed over to the officer.

Frank noted that on August 13, 2015 at Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Eve Leary, Georgetown a confrontation was held between him and Westford in the presence of her attorney, Eusi Anderson. “I told her of the allegation that she, while being a Minister within the Ministry of Public Service stole $10M property of the state… Westford remained silent” the officer told the court.

The police man further pointed out that he showed Westford that memorandum and asked her a series of questioned which she replied “No comments” and remained silent. The police witness told the court that on August 13, 2015 at CID headquarters he contacted Margaret Cummings in the present of her lawyer, Anderson and told her of the allegation that she stole $10M from the state during June 12, 2012. “She told me that she chooses to remain silent,” Frank said as he stood in the witness box. He explained that he was given the same answer when he showed her the memorandum and payment voucher.

He further testified that later that day, he held a confrontation between the Chief Accountant, Peter Moore from Office of the President (OP) and Cummings. Moore confronted the woman, stating that on June 12, 2012 he made payment to her and she (Cumming) signed the voucher. “She replied I have nothing to say.” The witness told the court that he assisted with the investigations into the 13 other similar charges against Westford and Cummings. He also added that he submitted statements into all of the 14 investigations.

However, the women’s lawyer, Senior Counsel, Neil Boston, argued that a total of 13 statements were submitted to the defense and not the 14 allocated. State Prosecutor Tashana Lake was quick to rebut Boston’s claims saying that work has been rigorously done to ensure that all of the statements in the file were corresponding correctly. Based upon the legal argument Magistrate Latchman adjourned the matter until January 19 for her clerk to check on how many statements were handed over.

Meanwhile, during yesterday hearing, Jennifer Chapman, the Deputy Accountant General at the Ministry of Finance continued her testimony from last November into the matter. Chapman during her testimony explained that the personal secretary from the MPS is responsible for the signing of cheques or she could have authorised someone on her behalf but would have to send a letter to the accountant general department before.

The deputy accountant general had handed over 23 cheques to the police to facilitate their investigation into the alleged $600M at Public Service Ministry. The witness in court had given detailed explanation about non sub-accounting agencies and sub-accounting agencies.

Dr. Westford and Ms. Cummings face 24 charges alleging that they stole more than $639M from the Government of Guyana. The charges state that between October 19, 2011 and April 28, 2015, Westford and Cummings, while being employed at the then Public Service Ministry, stole $639,420,000 belonging to the Government of Guyana, which they received by virtue of employment.