The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO post office clerks yesterday testified that they conducted transactions for Bahamian businessman Rudolph “Rudy” King that required authorisation from their supervisor.

The impresario is accused of defrauding the General Post Office of over half a million dollars, then laundering that amount between 2012 and 2015.

In 2019, King was charged with five counts each of fraud and money laundering concerning allegations that he defrauded the Post Office’s savings account of over $632,416 within that time frame.

However, last month the court was told that the actual amount the accused allegedly defrauded between June 2012 and April 2015 totalled $661,648.

King maintains his not guilty plea during his ongoing trial before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis.

When Ina Sturrup gave evidence yesterday, she said she was employed at the Freeport Post Office at the time the fraud was alleged to have taken place.

She said she knew King as a customer because she conducted transactions for him when she was employed there.

When questioned by Crown attorney Eucal Bonaby, Mrs Sturrup said she conducted two withdrawals for King in the amounts of $4,000 and $4,800 in November 2012 and January 2013, which she recorded on a day sheet.

When asked, she also said the money he requested was “above the normal amount” because “the maximum amount” of cash a clerk is allowed to give a customer during a withdrawal “is no more than $3,000 without authorisation”.

She said in order to process his requests at the time, she had to go to her supervisor for authorisation.

When Mrs Sturrup was cross-examined by attorney Damian Gomez, she said she recalled telling officers that there was a policy of the Post Office Savings Bank that stated that all savings accounts should only have up to $6,000 in them.

When it was put to her, she also admitted telling police they had been “somewhat relaxed” with the policy because of the fact they had clients in the Family Islands who they allowed to deposit over the stipulated amount.

The last witness to take the stand was Melinda Martin. During her testimony, she said she was employed at the Freeport Post Office at the stamp counter between 2010-2017.

Ms Martin said she had the opportunity to meet King in her capacity on one occasion when he made an $80,000 withdrawal from the Savings Bank.

During cross-examination, Mr Gomez asked her “would it be true to say” that when King deposited sums over $6,000, it had been approved by her supervisor and was therefore not “unusual”. She agreed.

Mr Gomez also asked Ms Martin if King had sufficient funds on his account to withdraw the $80,000.

She confirmed that she was able to “ascertain” that he did.

“So notwithstanding his withdrawal of the $80,000, there was far more money in the account. Is that not so?” Mr Gomez asked.

“According to the (pass)book, yes, sir,” Ms Martin replied.

The case continues today.