Jennifer Westford and Personnel Officer to be charged in $600 Million fraud

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions has recommended the charges after a long investigation and several files being submitted to the DPP's office.

Jennifer Westford and Personnel Officer to be charged in $600 Million fraud

Former Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford and her former personnel officer, Margaret Cummings are both expected in court this morning to face up to 24 charges in relation to a $600 Million fraud that occurred at the Public Service Ministry while Westford served as a Minister.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions has recommended the charges after a long investigation and several files being submitted to the DPP’s office.

The alleged fraud was discovered after the new government took office and started to go through the Ministry’s accounts.

It was first discovered that $127 Million which was transferred from the Office of the President in early 2015 to the Ministry could not be accounted for after it was withdrawn from the Ministry’s accounts.

The money was reportedly withdrawn in the run up to the May 11, 2015 elections and based on documents provided, it was withdrawn in three tranches over a three-month period.

Investigators decided to start checking all of the accounts of a similar nature and it was then that it was found that over $600 Million was missing.

The money had been transferred to the Public Service Ministry for Regional projects. However, the projects were never carried out although the money was withdrawn.

Former Minister of Public Service under the PPP, Jennifer Westford and her former Personnel Officer, Margaret Cummings were both questioned in connection with the alleged fraud.

News Source understands that Cummings may have been the person whose signature is attached to all of the withdrawal documents for the accounts.

The two women are already before the court in connection with the alleged attempt to transfer eight government vehicles to private individuals including the former Minister.

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