The government of Grenada announced its intention to initiate both civil and criminal proceedings against Sheldon Scott, a former minister, over allegations of unauthorized telecommunications expenses exceeding EC$100,000.
This sum accrued from July 2016 to July 2019 due to the continued use of a government-issued mobile phone after his official tenure had ended.
Details of the alleged misuse
Claudette Joseph, Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, explained that Sheldon Scott retained and misused a mobile phone issued to him when he was a Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.
This misuse persisted without authorization, in violation of the terms associated with the phone’s issuance.
Public exposure and telecommunication provider’s response
The issue came to light after Kem Jones, a talk show host affiliated with the National Democratic Congress, discussed the high charges incurred on Scott’s phone during his show in 2019.
Following these revelations, the telecom provider Digicel conducted an internal audit, affirming that the leak did not originate from within their operations and reasserting their commitment to customer privacy.
Acknowledgment and repayment issues
Scott acknowledged his responsibility for the charges and expressed a commitment to repay the government.
However, Joseph pointed out that, despite these promises, no payments have been made to date.
She cited a total of EC$115,393.32 in unauthorized charges that the government had covered during the period of misuse.
Legal actions and future steps
The government’s legal actions include a formal demand for repayment within 90 days, totaling EC$156,937.62 with interest.
Furthermore, the Financial Intelligence Unit has completed an investigation, and its findings have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide on potential criminal charges.
