Another government employee charged with conspiracy to steal

In just over one month, a second employee of the Ministry of Agriculture has been charged with conspiracy to steal. This time, it was Colonarie resident Cephus Toney, a survey statistician,{{more}} who appeared before the Serious Offences Court.

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young granted Toney bail in the sum of $30,000, after he was charged with conspiracy, with other persons, to steal $71,191.31, the property of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, between December 1, 2008 and April 30, 2012.

Toney pleaded not guilty.

On May 2, a senior technical officer in the same Ministry, Ruthvyn Harper, was brought before the court to answer seven charges in relation to theft and conspiracy to steal money from the government, totalling over $200,000.

Harper, who is the agricultural officer in charge of crop research, is now out on $70,000 bail.

He was charged with theft of $71,197.31 and $55,876, monies belonging to the Government. He was also charged with conspiracy to commit the offence of theft of $71,197.31, $19,325, $3,400, $3,000, $55,876.

He pleaded not guilty on all counts.

His offences are alleged to have been committed between December 2006 and April 2012.

The matters relating to both men have been adjourned for hearing on September 3 and 4, 2013, at the Serious Offences Court.(KW)