Start of trial of Westford, Cummings over alleged theft of state vehicles delayed for six months
The commencement of the trial of former public service minister Dr Jennifer Westford and ex-ministry personnel officer Margaret Cummings, who are charged with forgery and the attempted larceny of state vehicles, has been delayed until next year as a decision on the case in the High Court is being awaited.
When the matter was called before Magistrate Fabayo Azore yesterday, attorney Dexter Todd reported that the High Court has still not given the defence a date for continuation.
The magistrate, who also noted that the High Court has not affixed a date to the matter, gave the defence an additional six months and she hoped that by March, 2017, the High Court would have provided a date.
The magistrate subsequently set March 31 as the next date for a report in the matter.
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.