Old Age Pension Scam
Penitent postal workers willing to pay back money -sources
Stabroek News
April 8, 2003
Eight postal workers who have been identified as playing a part in the $14M Old Age Pension Scam have said they are prepared to make restitution, sources say.
And the final report of the Auditor General's (AG) findings into the multi-million dollar Old Age Pension Scam is expected this week, according to a source close to the AG's department.
Three out of the 23 officers who were interdicted had walked off the job during the post office investigations, while two had officially resigned.
An officer at the Post Office told this newspaper that the eight officers had confessed to investigators that they had played a part in the scam, but were penitent and willing to make restitution. Preliminary investigations show that the fraudulent coupons were encashed at 15 post offices around the country.
It also pointed out that there was active participation of clerical staff as well as postmasters and senior officers within the Ministry of Human Services' Social Security Department.
The final report should have been completed earlier this year, but constant power outages coupled with other administrative problems de-layed the process. Stabroek News also understands that due to the nature of the fraud which involves the printing and cashing of fake Old Age Pension coupons, auditors have to now go through all of the vouchers and this is contributing to the delay.
An interim report had been completed by the AG showing the level of fraudulent practices during the months of May to October.
No audit was done for the months of April and March, but reports are that the final report would contain findings from those two months. Copies of the interim report were handed over to the Guyana Police Force and the Human Services Ministry.
In keeping with the AG's policies a reply to the report was expected within a month from the Ministry of Human Services. It is however unclear as to whether the ministry has made any reply.
It is believed that the fraud began sometime in May. The interim report shows that some $13,958,784 was stolen during the period May-October.
Contacted last week, a senior police officer told this newspaper that the force is still conducting investigations and the prospect for an early finish was not good. Initially, the police had said they were awaiting the report from the AG's Department before any charge could be laid.
The officer added that there was still a lot of work to be done.
According to the officer they have to conduct investigations at all 15 post offices where the fake coupons were encashed. He added that with the limited manpower and other issues relating to the investigation they were not able to move ahead in a timely manner.
In addition to the thirteen postal workers, three officials from the ministry who were later dismissed are also likely to be charged. The 13 postal officials and the three dismissed officers are required to report at the Criminal Investigation Department every day.
The Old Age scam came to light some time in October last year when the Berbice Fraud Squad swooped on a house in New Amsterdam and discovered a quantity of fraudulent coupons. The discovery led to the Post Office and the ministry carrying out their own internal investigations last year. (Nigel Williams)
