Postal worker on trial for pension cheque fraud

A FORMER postal worker who allegedly committed fraud involving Government pension cheques went on trial yesterday in the San Fernando Criminal Assizes. Tara Sankarsingh, of Erin, pleaded not guilty before Justice Mark Mohammed to 11 counts of forgery and one count of larceny. The offences were alleged to have occurred between December 23, 1996 and January 24, 1997, while Sankarsingh was employed with the Ministry of Public Utilities in the Postal Service Division at  Palo Seco. She is charged with receiving or taking $4,395.10 by virtue of her employment.

Sankarsingh allegedly committed forgery with intent to defraud Government pension cheques each valued $356.15 from Rookmin Persad, Fedora Prince, Violet Bentley, Edward Hudlin, Mary Jane Baptiste, Harricharan Nagessar, Benjai Sukal, Elmina Trotman, Norman Joseph and Ederton Skeete. The accused is defended by former assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Indra Ramoutar-Liverpool while the State’s counsel — acting Assistant DPP Joan Honore-Paul — is expected to open the State’s case today before nine jurors and four alternates in the Second Criminal Court.