Woman denies corruption

(CNS): The first government worker to be charged under the anti-corruption legislation has denied that she abused her position as a member of the RCIPS civilian staff. Patricia Webster appeared in Grand Court on Friday morning and denied using both the police and immigration confidential data-bases to discover if an individual was under investigation and to find a phone number and personal information of another that she passed on to a third party. Webster, who was employed as a police receptionist, pleaded not guilty to the four counts which allege she both misconducted herself and abused her office when she searched confidential data bases.

The prosecution contend that Webster made illegal searches between April and August last year and have charged her with two counts of abuse of office and two counts of misconduct in a public office. Following her not guilt pleas Webster was bailed until the 30 July for what will be the first trial of a public sector worker under the new law.

The anti-corruption legislation came into effect at the beginning of 2010 and covers a range of issues, from bribery and corruption to fraud and misuse of power.

Webster is the first and only person to be charged so far under the legislation but a former board member of the National Housing Development Trust was arrested under the law last year. The George Town man was arrested on suspicion of breach of trust and abuse of public office, as well as suspicion of obtaining property by deception, in connection with the East End affordable housing project.

No charges have been brought in the case but investigations into the allegations which relate to the sale of insurance to the home buyers is ongoing and the 59-year-old man remains on police bail.