Hospital clerk pleads guilty to fraud

HIGH COURT Judge Paula Mae Weeks yesterday granted a request by defence attorney Ian Brooks to defer the sentencing of his client, Zenovia Susan Edwards, until a probation officer’s report is obtained. Justice Weekes adjourned the matter to September 30.

Edwards, who was employed as a Clerk I at the PoS General Hospital with the Ministry of Health, pleaded guilty to falsifying a paysheet in the sum of $392,832 when she appeared in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court yesterday. The facts were, presented by State attorney Nadia James, that some time between October 1 and November 19, 1998, Edwards prepared and submitted, without authority, a paysheet for 36 “employees” for the period October 1, to November 30, 1998. The paysheet totaled $392,832. Whilst the paysheet was being processed, it was discovered to be forged and the submitted names fictitious. As a result of this discovery, no payments were made and the matter was reported to the Fraud Squad. Sgt Mervyn Welsh, who was at the time attached to the Fraud Squad, conducted an investigation and interviewed several persons in connection with the report he had received.

On December 31, 1998, Sgt Welsh interviewed Edwards at the Police Training College in St James and told her of the report he had received, showing her certain documents, including the paysheet, that were in his possession. Edwards admitted to Welsh that she had in fact prepared and submitted the paysheet for payment, however, she refused to give a written statement. On June 25, 1999, a warrant was executed for Edwards’ arrest. she was later arrested and charged for the offence. Following the reading of the facts yesterday, the judge ordered the jury to return a guilty verdict against Edwards.