Accountant on trial for theft

The former financial controller of Evan Mandeville Associates, John Fields, said he was conducting a bank reconciliation in August 2005 when he came across documents “stated as deposits” that were unaccounted for.

Fields made the comment as he gave evidence today in the theft case against 57-year-old Ian Henderson Hunte, of No. 2 Halcyon Heights, St James who is on trial charged with stealing $104,785 belonging to the company between January 25, 2004 and July 11, 2005. He is also facing a nine-member jury on the charge of engaging in money laundering during that time.

Fields, who is now retired, told the No. 2 Supreme Court that Hunte was employed at the insurance broker company as his assistant at the time. The business, he said, was first located at Roebuck Street, but then moved to King Street in the City.

Fields recalled that sometime in July 2005 he made a decision to prepare the company’s bank reconciliation.

He claimed that he had asked Hunte for the information and “he always promised to do it. I found that he was taking inordinately long so I did it myself. It was his duty to do it.

“I collected the information I needed starting from 2005 . . . bank statements . . . records . . . I took them home.

“Starting in August 2005 I soon realised that there were a number of amounts in the July reconciliation stating as deposits . . . but they were outstanding. I looked but I couldn’t find it and I called Mr Hunte about it and he was to get back to me but he didn’t,” Fields said.

The witness said he drew the matter to the attention of Janet Mandeville and “she was rather concerned”.

The information was also given to the new financial controller of the company which brought over the insurance portfolio of Evan Mandeville Associates.

Fields was made redundant in his post in 2005 but acted as a caretaker for the company.

He explained that at one point Hunte called asking for them to meet and they did so at Whitepark Road. Hunte got into his car and they drove to Zephirins car park.

“I can’t remember everything we talked about but a couple of things stuck with me . . . . He was saying the company was a cash cow for everybody . . .,” recalled Fields who also disclosed that Hunte spoke about land and title deeds.

The former financial controller went on to say that Hunte was still employed as an accountant with Evan Mandeville Associates under the management of the new company, and wanted him to speak to the new financial controller. However, he informed him that “any arrangements had to be made with Mrs Mandeville.

“We met at her home. Mrs Mandeville and Hunte did most of the talking.”

The case continues on Friday.

However on Thursday, prosecutor, Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis and defence counsel Ralph Thorne Q.C. and Harlowe Broomes will make legal arguments in the absence of the jury before Justice Randall Worrell.