Magistrate defers ruling on case against Westford, aide in alleged theft of $600M

Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday deferred her highly anticipated ruling on the case against former government minister Jennifer Westford and her former aide Margaret Cummings for the alleged theft of over $600 million.

During yesterday’s hearing, Magistrate Latchman told the two accused that she would be deferring her ruling on whether or not a prima facie case has been made out against them until August 24th.

Westford and Cummings have been tried for the theft of $639,420,000, belonging to the Government of Guyana, between October 19th, 2011 and April 28th, 2015, while being employed with the former Public Service Ministry.

It is alleged that between 2011 and 2015, Westford signed 24 memoranda, amounting to $639,420,000, and sent them to the Permanent Secretary at the then 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.