Woman jailed over drivers’ licensing fraud
(CNS): A former civil servant who worked at the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing (DVDL) was jailed on Friday for nine months and two weeks, following her conviction earlier this year for corruption offences relating to dozens of licences she gave out to drivers who had not passed a driving test.
For around six months in 2017, Kimberley Roberts (35) from West Bay used her position to help people get the documents they needed to drive without going though the proper channels. Roberts claimed she did not get any money from the corrupt scheme and she was trying to help people.
However, during the investigation some of the people who had received a fraudulent licence, which have since been revoked, said they paid intermediaries as much as CI$1,500 to gain a Cayman Islands driving licence without going through the proper channels, such as taking a written and then practical official driving exam.
As Justice Cheryll Richards handed down her ruling in court, she said that corruption is insidious as it undermines the public trust in the system, but in this case it went beyond that breach of trust and actually put the public in danger because she had allowed people to secure fraudulent documents to drive on the road when in some cases they were incapable of doing so.
The judge noted that while prosecutors could not directly tie any of the fraudulent licence holders to specific road collisions, even Roberts had told police it was “scary” that people were on the road when they did not know how to drive and that what she had done posed a real danger.
Roberts had worked for the DVDL for eleven years with an unblemished record before the conspiracy to issue dodgy licences began in April 2017, which is when she began a relationship with Alex Rattray (25), a Jamaican national and her co-defendant.
Rattray had wanted to get a heavy goods vehicle licence (HGVL) because he was having trouble finding work and did not have the money to take the necessary lessons. Roberts wanting to help him, she later admitted, so she entered false information into the system and got him a licence. After that he asked her to help some of his family, which she also did.
When other people heard what she had done, more people began asking and Roberts said she just carried on doing it because she wanted to help. While the crown was unable to prove that she had taken money, given the number of people that became involved in the conspiracy, it was clear some of them were taking cash as they acted as go-betweens.
But Roberts did not cover her tracks well and it was not long before her bosses picked up on suspicious entries into the system that showed people getting a provisional licence, passing a written test, then a driver’s exam and getting a full local licence in as little as 48 hours. Even in expedited circumstances, that process should take at least six weeks.
The case was referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission, which triggered a complex and protracted investigation into allegations of widespread abuse of the issuance of drivers’ licences.
The ACC said that in addition to the breach of trust, this conspiracy posed “a significant risk to public safety by facilitating unlicensed and, in many cases, untrained persons to drive on the public roads, together with the additional hazard of being uninsured”.
While Roberts was jailed immediately, as the judge said the custody threshold had been reached, she suspended Rattray’s 13-month sentence since he was not a public officer and had taken part in the conspiracy of only three other licences besides his own fraudulent HGVL. But the judge ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service.
Roberts, the mother of a young baby and two teenage children, wept in the arms of friends and family before she remanded into custody one week before Christmas Eve. The court said that her baby will be in the care of Roberts’ husband and family until she is released.
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Sorry but anyone that comes from another country and commits a crime has to be deported.jamaica is a poor violent country ( prove me wrong) while grand cayman has always been a safe place to visit.if grand cayman keeps hiring Jamaicans this once beautiful island will become another slum just like jamaica.keep the camanians working deport the crooks who are trying to ruin grand cayman.
Investigations come with an associated cost also.
How was an Jamaican “struggling to
find work” even here in the first place?
So people are upset at the Jamaican who got a suspended sentence but not the Caymanian who was put in a place of trust to safeguard the public? The book should have been thrown at both of them but also at the persons who benefitted from the corrupt scheme.
As for the person who said that Jamaicans have no manners, I find that to be quite shocking, seeing as many of us are raised to say please and thank you. Perhaps look at your attitude towards these Jamaicans. We tend to repay like with like. You give us attitude and we tend to return it in spades.
Please. The majority of Jamaicans who come to Cayman are at the bottom of the socioeconomic barrel in Jamaica. Facts. Many of them too use of the dog-eat-dog mentality and are beyond having civility or manners.
Agree that Jamaicans are doing jobs that we don’t want to do ourselves. Gardeners, nannies, plumbers, car mechanics, etc. Go ahead, deport the foreigners. But don’t expect to have your septic tank emptied, or your 2 year old looked after while you go out and party.
When the first clue is someone getting a license tooooo quickly, you know you are in the right place. Please take a number and someone will be with you……..
This is all a joke! 9 months and 2 weeks? Come on people! I guess I would land only 6 months for stabbing someone, 9 months for breach of trust + 3 other charges. 1 year and 2 months for stealing 200,000.00, better that than getting 10 years for an ounce of weed. DUI drivers get more time to serve than breaching governments’ trust. Honestly, she should have gotten 9 months for every license issued x “dozens”.
Basically, she received 9 months and 2 weeks, this is equivalent to 288 days. Prison time?… she only serves 60% which would then equivalate to 172.8 days = 24.69 weeks therefore, she will only serve approximately 6 months and 3 weeks.
By the time she settles into prison life, it will be time for her to leave. And what exactly do you think she will take away from all of this, WHAT LESSON WOULD SHE HAVE LEARNED?
No job, cheating on her husband? What?
This reply is coming from a female within the female prison who is the mastermind of an armed robbery. You only mad because you got 12 years. Calculate your time and leave others alone. Thats why CNS and CMR had to be blocked inside tbere is because prisoners like you were coming on here and commenting shit like this. She learned more in the short time that she was there for, than the 5 years of the 12 year sentence youre serving. Passed all her classes and exams. She behaved herself and unlike you who make trouble with every one inside there. Wtf cheating has to do with her crime. Girl you need to go siddung and mind yo bizniz and try and get back to your children that dont want nothing to do with you. She out and about and she making a life for herself and her kids and trying to better herself and make it better for her family. She not living on NAU and she is working.
#leggewasright
Why are there so many corrupt people on this island?
Inspired by politician.. ?
10:28pm I honestly feel many are grossly underpaid and merely take advantage of monetary gains from situations which aid in that regard, despite the illegalities. Look at our politicians and all they have gotten away with. Cost of living here is a bitch and the wages rarely go anywhere. Not condoning this at all, but it’s human nature to take advantage when there is an advantage to be taken.
I wish to commend the civil service for enforcing the zero tolerance against corruption mandate set by our DG.
Let this sentence and the sentence melted out against the immigration officers involved in the English test fiasco serve as a deterrent to all public officers.
Warning to public officers, members of the private sector are going to try and “beg a favor” or ask for a “bly” as is custom in their countries.
But stand firm public officers stand firm or you will go to prison.
And yet the civil servants at immigration are doing nothing to deport the numerous foreign nationals that appear to have proffered what amounts to bribes? You call that zero tolerance? It is a sick joke.
So a foreign national moves to Cayman, conspires to commit fraud, endangers who knows how many people on the roads (which are bad enough without this), then gets a community sentenced and allowed to remain? I thought this kind of madness only existed in the U.K.!!
It is a type of corruption. Designed and implemented by foreign nationals, in support of foreign nationals. Those that suffer are the Cayman Islands and the Caymanian people. OK WORC and Chuckie. Over to you. Are going to dare enforce your laws?
She “wanted to help”, seriously? It’s worrying that someone so stupid was allowed to hold a position of responsibility. Why is her “co-accused” not being deported?!
I own a motorcycle most times I’have to think twice before coming on these roads with the poor standards of driving here.
I know this is a little off topic. But does anyone else wonder why Jamaican customers have so little manners? Is it just cultural? I don’t get why they are so rude to service staff. It is so odd. Not one says ‘May I please’ they just throw items at you and say ‘Cash this’. Most obnoxious behavior. Sadly they seem to take over our Cayman Kind. My mother would have washed their mouth with soap.
This is why employers are replacing Jamaicans and taking on more Phillipinos.
Philipinos have great work ethic, they are polite, they don’t steal from their employer, and they show up for work when they are supposed to.
Soon come has had it’s day hopefully.
So I guess we are all about subservience then. How come no one talks about these jobs going to Caymanians? Oh I forget, why would a Caymanian want to be in the retail trade where they will need to show up and be respectful to customers?
One should be just as concerned about the export of gun crime, gangsterism, and general criminalism prevalent within a (small?/large?)segment of the Jamaican population, exported around the world. But yes, I get your point. It comes from an uneducated segment of the Jamaican population, and spreading to the uneducated segment of the Cayman population; unfortunately these things translate to what I described above, general lawlessness, criminality, etc. My suggestion, when they throw stuff at you and say “cash this”, turn your face at them, give them a look, and say “pardon me?” Don’t cash anything until they address you properly. You don’t deserve the disrespect thrown your way.
4.02 the “educated” ones are just as bad.
Their corruption is behind closed doors pandering to politicians who will look after them. Just look at oooo is in power and oooo is their supporters.
OK, So all the rude Caymanians get a free pass? You’re looking through a window – try looking in a mirror.
If you were a true Caymanian you would have learned to say “good morning/afternoon” with dumbfounded eyes and wait for them to start over or get busy really quick and make them wait 🙂 and say “you’re welcome” even if they don’t say thank you. Embarrassment goes a long way, granny taught me that! And boi do I use it every chance I get! … oh, you were talking to me (Mr. Rude 50-year-old person with no manners), sorry I didn’t hear you.
Why isn’t Rattray on his way back to Kingston where he belongs? Do the Cayman Islands need another foreign criminal among them? Don’t they have enough of their own?
In Little Cayman it looks like they hand out DLs out as a welcome gift, according to the standard of driving. Seems that indicators are rarely used,or not until after the turn is already in process.
Yes it’s those lights and that nuisance roundabout.
Shouldn’t the recipients of the licences be charged ? After all they were part of the scheme to obtain false documents by deception. They have also been presumably driving without licences and insurance and putting other road users at risk.
Why are the laws not enforced to the fullest ?
Good question. But with the “Justice system” we have here in little Kingston, don’t count in it.
4:12 pm, Jamaicans taking care of Jamaicans,that’s the bottom line. That guy should have been jailed and deported . These stupid Caymanian women having affairs and children by these no good men should be jailed too.
Must have been some big names and might have been another National embarrassment if they were outed.
Explains some of the poor driving on Cayman roads!! She’s been employed there for eleven years…I bet this isn’t her first rodeo and she’s not the only one!
Greed foments corruption!
So I take it that Rattray is not going to be deported at the end of his prison sentence but instead will be remaining on island to do other ‘tings’ when released?? Ridiculous if true.
All Jamaicans have fren dem oooo look after them.
He isn’t even in prison. It says his sentence was suspended and he just has to do community service. Ridiculous! Deport him!
And every foreign national that knowingly got licensed without testing. They are corrupt. They are criminals. Why are our law enforcers so lax?
10:20, him have baby mudda a Cayman. Nah go back a yard. A dis him new home. NAU will be the next stop.
All because of corruption and a refusal to enforce our immigration laws. Our legal system appears to have become complicit. No one appears willing to protect Cayman, and Caymanians.
Caymanians are not willing to protect Cayman!
In English please.
4:14 pm, those foolish stupid Caymanian women should be sent to jail for having children by these no good men that won’t support their children, for the tax payers to support, these women always cries ” I am a single mother I need help” stupid women.
Shes out now and is working and not relying on NAU or tax payers to take care of her and her family. People do make mistakes and do get caught up in some bad things. Does not make her a bad person at all. Shes paid her dues and trying to make it better. We as a society need to stop looking down at ppl. It can happen to any of us. Im sure she never thought shed get caught up in something like that. Every dog has his day. She is not the first nor the last.
It will never change. Caymanian Culture corruption. Caymans claim to fame the world over.
And yet at least one of the people involved is not Caymanian.
OK. So at least one other Non Caymanian is also corrupt. Thanks for sharing.
11.03 All the others are Jamaican you can bet.
When will the Anti Corruption Commission go after the bigger scoundrels? They seem to be only going after small fry while those big boys roam free!
When you provide them with specific first-hand information. That is how law’s work. YOU witness something wrong then YOU report it and be willing to say what YOU witnessed.
And yet politicians get condos and our robust law enforcers do not see a thing?
And have your life destroyed? THAT is how your corrupt system works. Go and have unlawful intercourse with yourself.
9:33 If you have evidence of “big boys” crime, bring it forward to the ACC. The ACC will be more than happy to review it and decide whether to take action.
You sure about that? Will I still be able to get planning permission, or a trade and business license? How many people in how many places, low and high, will learn of my complaint?
So sad.
Not really.
Stupid and corrupt people like this giving licenses to truck drivers and the like. Good thing he probabbly was driving one of those 20 year old trucks at 60 mph down shamrock road and blowing through all the roundabouts. Hopefully she doesnt get another gov employment after this – then again will most probabbly end up on WORC benefits.
Disgrace that his sentence was suspended . What sort of message does that send !?
Think how dangerous a truck is on the road with a driver who hasn’t got a proper license !!?
Corruption of a public servant is just that. He should be in jail.
The sentence appears grossly inadequate. She stole from the public and endangered lives. Hardly a deterrent.
All persons who have acquired a local drivers license in the past and do not have PR should be require to be recertified, unless they have a UK driving license.
#worldclass
Very dishonest person. Cheating on husband and lying and corrupt. Karma. Sad.
That been going on on the Brac for many years,but the Brac is place where no cares.
Well, that’s a relief. I thought it was only older Caymanian men who did stupid/crooked things because they thought younger women were in love with them.
Are there other corrupt DVDL employees out there?. this would go a long way to explaining the abysmal standards of so many drivers on our roads.
Yes is the answer to your question. Abysmal driving standards and vehicles that could fall apart at any moment due to having passed an ‘inspection’ guffaw….guffaw…guffaw.