The Ministry of Public Service’s Chief Personnel Officer Margaret Cummings was yesterday detained at police headquarters, Eve Leary and questioned about missing funds amounting to just over $127 million, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed.
Up to late yesterday she was still being questioned, sources said.
Stabroek News understands that Dr Jennifer Westford, the former public service minister, is expected to be questioned later this week. This latest scandal to rock the ministry pertained to the transfer of money to several personal accounts over a one year period.
Both woman are already before the court in connection with the transfer of registration for several state owned vehicles. They are on a total of $2 million bail.
Attorney Eusi Anderson told Stabroek News that Cummings was invited to CID Headquarters in relation to allegations of public funds amounting to $120 million. He said he and fellow attorney Dexter Todd accompanied the woman to police headquarters.
“She is cooperating fully with the police force,” he said while refusing to disclose whether at the time of conversation with this newspaper she was still being interviewed. He also did not respond to questions as to whether the woman was under arrest.
“The police force has displayed a degree of professionalism, that is highly commendable, that has inspired her confidence and cooperation…I would like to commend the force for its exceptional professionalism in handling this matter,” he stressed.
It was Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman who informed reporters of this newest scandal. Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing last week, he said that things seemed to be “bubbling up” and one of them pertained to the Ministry of the Public Service’s allocation of tens of millions of dollars. He said the allocation was actively engaging the attention of the Guyana Police Force.
Westford came into public focus in June when it was revealed that an approach was made to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to have eight vehicles transferred into the names of five persons including Westford.
The matter was handed over to the police who after conducting a probe forwarded the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
Westford was read four charges of attempting to commit larceny, while Cummings’s charges were four counts of forgery. They both pleaded not guilty.
The charges against Westford alleged that between July 17, 2014 and June 23, 2015, while being employed as a public servant by the Government of Guyana, she attempted to transfer several government owned vehicles to herself and others. These persons included her husband Gary Beaton as well as Wayne Walker and Delroy Lewis.
Cummings, who was said to be on administrative leave since the incident came to light, was charged with forging several receipts to show that the vehicles were purchased by Beaton, Walker, Lewis and Westford. Cummings allegedly committed the unlawful acts between July 18, 2014 and April 15, 2015.
