The commencement of the trial of the former public service minister Dr Jennifer Westford and ex-ministry personnel officer Margaret Cummings, on charges of forgery and the attempted larceny of state vehicles, has been delayed pending a decision by the High Court.
During yesterday’s proceedings before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, attorney Glenn Hanoman requested an adjournment in the light of a pending application by the defence in the High Court, for which it is awaiting a response.
This request was granted by the magistrate despite the fact that Prosecutor Bharat Mangru was prepared to lead his case and had in court three witnesses present at court.
August 8 has been set by the magistrate for a report.
The charges against Westford allege 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, meanwhile, was charged with forging several receipts to show that the vehicles were purchased by Beaton, Walker, Lewis and Westford between July 18, 2014 and April 15, 2015.
Both women have pleaded not guilty.
