The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A FORMER civil servant defrauded the Urban Renewal Programme of more than $40,000.

Prosecutors said that between 2006 and 2007, Valderine Watkins and co-defendant Stanley Nixon conspired to, and committed, fraud by forging contracts which were used to obtain funds that were expected to be used to the benefit the Urban Renewal Programme.

Watkins, who worked as a secretary in the Ministry of Housing under then Minister Shane Gibson at the time, and co-defendant Stanley Nixon, had both denied the allegations.

It was claimed that Watkins forged contracts to Nixon, who received funds in excess of $40,000 to start works for the Urban Renewal Programme that never commenced.
A trial was scheduled to start today but legal issues arose and on Thursday a plea agreement was made between the prosecution and defence.
Both defendants admitted to the charges and will be sentenced on April 19.