More fraud charges for Deputy Commander, senior cops

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on Wednesday instituted more fraud charges against Police Finance Officer, Woman Senior Superintendent (ag) Marcelene Washington; former Deputy Finance Officer, Deputy Superintendent, Frank Jackman- Wilburg and former Deputy Commander of Division 4 ‘B’, Woman Superintendent, Lorraine Saul.

While the trio was jointly charged with two counts of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Saul was charged separately with two counts of Falsification of Account by Officer.

The case was called before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The case against Washington and Saul was adjourned to May 14, 2021, as they were not present in court on Wednesday.

Only Jackman showed up and both charges of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Contrary to Section 34 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01 were read to him, however, he was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.

He was released on $150,000 bail and the case was adjourned to May 14, 2021.

On the conspiracy charges, reports are that the trio, with intent to defraud, conspired with each other and other persons while being Officers, employed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), to falsify the feeding account of the Felix Austin Police College on two occasions; once in the sum of $1.4 million and then again, in the sum of $2.2 million.

Investigations by SOCU revealed that Saul, who was stationed at the Felix Austin Police College as the Officer in charge, prepared two feeding accounts on November 2, 2020.

Both accounts were for meals provided to ranks performing fixed point duties at the Suicide Helpline and the Mounted Branch from October 16 to October 31, 2020.

The accounts were reportedly processed at the Police Finance Office and Payment Voucher #51f002050 was approved for the amounts listed totalling in excess of $3.6 million.

Further investigations discovered that Washington and Wilburg colluded with Saul to defraud as they authorised the payment when, in fact, no such duty existed and meals were not distributed to ranks as stated on the accounts.