Former PS Omar Shariff also approved memos, payment vouchers, court hears

Former Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President Omar Shariff was yesterday identified to the court as one of the permanent secretaries who approved 10 of the 23 memorandums along with the relevant payment vouchers.

This disclosure was made during cross-examination of Alwayne Williams, an accountant who is attached to the Ministry of Presidency, at the continuation of the trial of former PPP/C public service minister, Dr Jennifer Westford and her former aide Margaret Cummings, who are charged with the alleged theft of over $600 million from the government.

Williams yesterday took to the witness stand for further cross-examination by defence lawyer, Senior Counsel Neil Boston. The witness explained to the court that his role as an accountant was to examine the payment vouchers which he usually does twice. He told the court that after the vouchers are examined, the cheques for the requisite amounts on the vouchers are prepared by the Ministry of Finance. Williams noted that while the cheques are not endorsed by the permanent secretary, they are endorsed by a principal assistant secretary, who is authorised to do so.