Attorney says former Petrojam chairman used his own credit card then claimed for expenses

The attorney representing former chairman of Petrojam, Dr Perceval Singh, on Tuesday quizzed witness Carlene Evans on whether she was aware that his client had used his own credit card to pay for overseas business trips that he never attended and as a result claimed for the expenses from the company.

Dr Singh along with former general manager of Petrojam Floyd Grindley, are on trial in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on fraud related charges.

Singh is accused of claiming for overseas trips and meetings which he did not undertake, while Grindley allegedly aided and abetted Singh. The claims, which were made between December 2016 and May 2018, amounted to more than US$73,000.

The witness, Evans, is currently the financial treasurer and budget planner of Petrojam, but she acted as chief financial officer (CFO) of the State-run oil refinery on numerous occasions during the period under scrutiny.

“Dr Singh was careful to provide proof of Expedia payment for travel. In other words, he accounted for his expenses. There is evidence that he paid by credit card,” attorney Bert Samuels said, indicating that although Singh had paid, he did not show up.

“I suggest to you that credit card payments were made before the dates of the meetings,” Samuels said to Evans during cross-examination.

In reference to a report from the auditor general that highlighted irregularities involving certain questionable travel claims that were paid to Singh, Evans said she did not think that, based on her position, she should have acquainted herself with that report.

She accepted that in her role she should have assisted in maintaining effective systems and procedures for safeguarding the company’s resources.

Evans had told the court on Monday that she refused to activate payments for certain claims because of discrepancies with dates of overseas travel. She claimed that it was after being instructed by Grindley to honour the payments that she did so.

On Tuesday, Samuels also asked Evans about the circumstances under which Dr Singh paid back for a surprise birthday party that was kept for him. He asked her about her involvement in signing off the documents to pay for that party.

Evans responded: “I can confirm that I signed the wire transfer form to effect that payment. There were about 25 people at the party. I do not know who the planners of the party were and if they were called upon to pay back”.

“It was a reasonable request to have Dr Singh pay back for that surprise party. That particular expenditure was not regarded as a business for the board of directors and the company,” she said.

The trial continues today.