Defendants plead guilty in BVI fraud trial

Wednesday, January 21, 2004

ROAD TOWN, BVI: The trial in the British Virgin Islands High Court of former Financial Secretary Mr. L. Allen Wheatley, former Director of the Telephone Service Management Unit Mr. Berton Smith and former Budget Coordinator Mr. Bevis Sylvester ended abruptly Monday when four of the five defendants pleaded guilty to approving a contract based on inflated prices that cost the government more than $450,000.

Justice Hugh Rawlins sentenced Wheatley, 35, to nine months in jail. Sylvester, 30, got six months, Smith, 36, nine months and businessman Albion Hodge, 49, six months.

In return for the guilty pleas to neglect of duty, prosecutors in the British Caribbean territory withdrew charges of theft and conspiracy to commit theft, which could have landed the men in prison for up to 10 years.

The charges stem from an airport telecommunications contract.

BVI Governor Thomas Macan, responding to the guilty plea by the defendants, said in a press statement that their admission of criminal wrongdoing has saved Government the cost of a long and expensive trial.

However, the Governor was adamant about the message that was sent out to public servants regarding their handling of public funds. "The public servants found guilty can expect to be dismissed with immediate effect. The rulebook has always been clear about what expenditure is acceptable and what is not: these decisions point out the consequences for those who do not follow the rules," he said.

Mr. Macan expressed congratulations and thanks to the hardworking staff members in the Attorney General's Chambers and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, whose painstaking work made the results possible. "It has been an impressive team effort," he added.

Additionally, Governor Macan referred to the proposed legislation on integrity in public life, saying it is intended to strengthen the way in which public servants carry out their duties and the consequences or rewards that may follow. He said he looks forward to it becoming law and to introducing its provisions.

Mr. Macan concluded his statement by saying that it has been an unhappy saga, which has not done the territory's reputation any good, but that closure had to be brought to the process and the cooperation of the accused was welcome.

The Governor insisted that investigations into these and other areas where public money may have gone astray will continue and asked members of the public for their full cooperation. 

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