The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has returned the file on the vehicle transfer scandal involving former Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford and several others but there is silence on what advice was given.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday confirmed that he is in possession of the file, which had been sent to the DPP’s chambers for advice almost two weeks ago. Asked about the advice that has been given, Blanhum said “I wouldn’t disclose that at this point in time.”
However, sources say that the police were advised to do additional investigations. It would seem that thegovernment’s decision to grant an amnesty in exchange for the return of ministry vehicles may have had a bearing on whatever advice was given by the DPP.
Observers had suggested that it would be impossible to lay criminal charges against anyone embroiled in the scam if an amnesty were granted.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon had announced during a recent post-cabinet press briefing that government was prepared to grant a limited amnesty to make sure that persons returned the vehicles. The scheme was unearthed when Commissioner-General of GRA Khurshid Sattaur wrote to Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry Hydar Ally on June 10th, 2015 requesting that he re-issue a letter, dated April 14th, 2015, requesting the transfer of registration for eight vehicles into the names of Westford, Wayne Walker, Delroy Lewis, Gary Beaton (who is said to be Westford’s spouse) and Osbert McPherson.
There were also accompanying receipts which showed that they had paid cash for the vehicles in question. It is believed that the receipts are fakes, particularly since they did not look like official government-issued receipts.
Sattaur wrote that the GRA “has the policy of not granting requests for transfers occurring before the new government took office, unless a letter is issued during the current administration.”
Ally, in his response, indicated that the request for transfer of the vehicles should be withdrawn and advised that no documentation relative to the sale of the vehicles had been seen. Earlier, Ally had written a letter to Westford asking about the whereabouts of several vehicles, including a $9M vehicle which was bought in 2013. This newspaper has learnt that that vehicle was bought for Westford’s use.
The police were then called in and two employees, including Margaret Cummings who signed the letter sent to GRA, were sent on leave. Subsequently, all the vehicles were returned to the Ministry of Presidency. “I believe that some people took that very seriously and decided to bring them in,” Harmon had said after this development.
Police investigators managed to make contact with Westford and the other four persons, from whom they got statements. Their findings were later sent to the DPP.
