Three accused of defrauding Education Minister to return to court on
The three persons accused of defrauding the Ministry of Education of $23 million appeared before the St Andrew Parish Court yesterday where the case against them was mentioned.
They are to return to court on September 10.
They are Jermaine Saunders,31, a salary clerk employed to the Ministry of Education; Delroy Elliott, 31, a teacher of Cheapside, Manchester and Ruel Young, 35, a teacher of Rock River in Clarendon. They were all charged earlier this month following a probe by the Fraud Squad into an alleged scam.
In court yesterday, prosecutors reported that the case file was not yet completed.
They also outlined the allegations which were strongly opposed by attorney Oswest Senior Smith, who is representing Mr Elliott.
Investigators reported that between June 2017 and August last year, Mr. Young and Mr. Elliott were overpaid more than $23 million.
It is alleged that Mr. Saunders, who was the salary clerk for both teachers, subsequently requested the return of some of the money.
It’s reported that the funds were paid to him by way of cash and bank transfers. He however failed to turn over the funds to the Education Ministry.
Fraud Squad investigators were called in after an internal audit uncovered the alleged scam.
The three men turned themselves in between May 7 and 9, after which they were charged with conspiracy and simple larceny.
Yesterday they were offered bail in the sum of $400 thousand, ordered to surrender their travel documents and report to the police twice weekly.
Neva even did know seh dis gwan. Wow! Teef deh everywhey inna every form.