Former Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford and the ministry’s Chief Personnel Officer Margaret Cummings, accused of several counts of forgery and attempted larceny, made their second court appearance on Monday before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.
At the hearing, September 15th was given as the next date for the filing of statements in the matters.
At their arraignment on July 29th, Westford and Cummings were charged and released on a combined bail total of $2 million after being charged with several counts of forgery and attempted larceny. Both women had pleaded not guilty.
The charges against Westford state that between July 17th, 2014 and June 23rd, 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 spouse, Gary Beaton, as well as Wayne Walker and Delroy Lewis.
Meanwhile, Cummings, who has been on administrative leave since the allegations 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 18th, 2014 and April 15th, 2015.
The police proceeded with the charges after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended that Westford be charged.
Investigations began after Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority Khurshid Sattaur wrote to Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry Hydar Ally on June 10th, 2015, asking that he re-issue a letter, dated April 14th, 2015, requesting the transfer of registration for eight vehicles into the names of Westford, Walker, Lewis, Beaton 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. The letter was allegedly signed by Cummings for Ally.
All of the vehicles which are at the centre of the charges have since been returned to the government.
