THE MONIES for which John MacKay (former Primcipal) and Donald Clarke, (former bursar) of Campion College were tried were proceeds collected for school fees and book rentals between April 1996 and August 1998.
It was also alleged that Clarke receipted money from cheques signed by MacKay, but failed to lodge the money and that MacKay paid himself interest from the same monies.
After Resident Magistrate Jennifer Straw ruled in June this year that there was a case for the men to answer, Clarke gave an unsworn statement from the dock, denying being involved in any conspiracy to defraud the school. He said there was no conspiracy between himself and MacKay to defraud Campion College or the Ministry of Education.
He said the $11 million he was accused of stealing was arrived at by Mr. Harvey (the government auditor), who on no occasion sought any assistance from him regarding the amounts unknown, which were expended for the day-to-day running of the school. He said at no time did he make any statement of admission to Detective Sgt. Campbell or any other person.
MacKay said, in his defence, that he was the one who reported the irregularities to the Ministry of Education, based on a report from the auditors for the school.
He said that in 1998 Ernst and Young, the auditors, did an audit and sent in a report. After he got the report, he contacted an officer at Ernst and Young and asked him to explain the report. He said subsequently he had a meeting with Clarke, the then bursar, and told him of the problem with the audited account. He told Clarke that he wanted to know if he had taken any money.
Lawyers representing Clarke objected to the evidence, on the ground that it was prejudicial, but the judge overruled the objection.
In continuing his defence, MacKay said that Clarke admitted taking some money. He suggested to Clarke that he should return to work while he (MacKay) decided what to do. He said he went to the Ministry of Education and requested to see the Permanent Secretary, but he was told she was going on leave. He was instead directed to another Ministry official and he made a report to her.
When he returns to court MacKay will answer charges pertaining to allegations that he took money from the school's Benefit Fund and invested it, then took the interest accrued for his personal use.
The Crown was represented by Carrington Mahoney, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions and Marjorie Moyston, Crown Counsel.
