Westford file back with DPP

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum has confirmed that the more than 25 files of the $600M fraud at the Ministry of Public Service is back with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Former Public Service Minister, Jennifer Westford is at the center of that investigation along with the former Personnel Manager, Margret Cummings.

Blanhum told iNews that the tidying up of the files has been completed as requested by the DPP, who had sent it back to the police for certain aspects of it to be cleared up.

Asked when exactly the files were sent back to the DPP, the Crime Chief stated that it was during the latter part of last week.

During audits at the Ministry of Public Service, which Westford once headed under the PPP Administration, it was found that she received several million dollars from the then Office of the President, which were to be used for conducting a review of the services offered by the Public Sector.

Those huge sums, which were signed off by then Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President, Omar Sharif were reportedly never used for the intended purpose.

The same former Minister and her Personnel Manager are presently before the Court charged with illegally transferring several State owned vehicles to themselves and associates.

Recently, lawyers for Westford applied for a stay of execution in that mater for which she is on bail.