Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday set the date for the commencement of the trial of former minister Jennifer Westford and her former aide Margaret Cummings for the alleged theft of over $600 million from the government.
The trial is set to begin on April 19.
Westford and Cummings face 24 charges alleging they stole more than $639 million from the Government of Guyana.
Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt told the court that the charges against Cummings and Westford span a period of five years and subsequently requested that the matters be tried by year. Hunt also requested time to verify two case jackets that contain information that has to be verified.
Magistrate Latchman subsequently granted him permission to verify the files and set April 8 for him to report on the matter.
Although the defendants’ attorney requested a month and half to review the files against the accused, this was denied and the magistrate stated that the trial will commence with all the 2011 matters.
The charges state that between the period of October 19, 2011 and April 28, 2015, Westford and Cummings, while being employed with the former Public Service Ministry, stole $639,420,000 belonging to the Government of Guyana, which they received by virtue of employment.
It is also alleged that between 2011 and 2015, Westford signed 24 memorandums amounting to $639,420,000 and sent them to the Permanent Secretary at the Office of the President to be signed and approved. The money was said to have been requested for activities to be conducted in the 10 administrative regions.
