BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 9th October 2020) – Deputy Labour Commissioner Dr. Deon Webb is named among a list of ex-employees of the Police Cooperative Credit Union who recently bailed relating to an investigation into the activities surrounding payments made from the government’s Severance Payment Fund during May and June 2020 involving over EC$ 1 million- at a total sum of EC $1,182,144.38
Webb of New Road, Mario Wigley of Cayon, Hyacinth Phipps of Garden’s Housing, Chanita Richards of Parray’s Extension and Tisharie Fyfield of Gillard’s Meadows were granted bail on Monday 5th October in the sum of $60,000 with two (2) sureties; one day after they were all arrested and charged on 4th October.
Among the various charges individually, all are being accused of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by Possession.
Their four-part bail conditions are as follows: (1) they are to surrender all travel documents; (2) they are to report to the Police Station twice per week, that is, on Mondays and Fridays; (3) they are to have no contact with the employees of the Police Cooperative Credit Union in relation to these matters (however they are allowed to conduct business); and (4) they are to return to court on December 07, 2020.
According to a statement from the Police Public Relations Department, the White Collar Crime Unit launched an investigation into the activities surrounding payments made from Fund during May and June, 2020. Based on the findings of the investigations, charges were proffered against the four former employees of the PCCU and the Deputy Labour Commissioner
As stated also, on 27th July 2020, the National Audit Office requested an investigation into suspected fraudulent payments made from the fund to four (4) employees (now former employees) of the Police Cooperative Credit Union (PCCU).
The details of the charges are as follow:
Wigley- charged with one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by Possession, one (1) count of Money Laundering by Possession, one (1) count of Money Laundering by Transactions, one (1) count of Obtaining Money by False Pretence, three (3) counts of Uttering of Forged Documents, three (3) counts of Forgery, and four (4) counts of Demanding Money on Forged Documents.
Phipps- charged with one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by Possession, one (1) count of Money Laundering by Possession, one (1) count of Money Laundering by Transactions, one (1) count of Obtaining Money by False Pretence, and one (1) count of Demanding Money on Forged Documents.
Richards- charged with one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by Possession, one (1) count of Money Laundering by Possession, one (1) count of Money Laundering by Transactions, one (1) count of Obtaining Money by False Pretence, and one (1) count of Demanding Money on Forged Documents.
Fyfield- charged with one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by Possession, one (1) count of Money Laundering by Possession, one (1) count of Obtaining Money by False Pretence, and one (1) count of Obtaining Money on Forged Documents.
Deon Webb- charged for one (1) count of Misconduct in Public Office, one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by Possession, three (3) counts of Uttering of Forged Documents, and four (4) counts of Causing Money to be Paid on Forged Documents.