Fraud-accused appeared very ‘Christian-like’ and pleasant during her interview – Manager

NIGERIAN EUNICE DOWERS faces over 50 charges of stealing from her former employer, but before she was hired, she appeared very Christian-like “genuflecting, bowing to people”.

This is according to general manager at Star Garage, Joshua DaSilva, who explained this during questioning about the day he interviewed Dowers for the job of secretary to the managing director, Bertille ‘Silky’ DaSilva.

At the start of the trial, Dowers’ lawyer Grant Connell had fired a volley of questions to ‘Silky’ about the nature of his relationship with then 24-year-old Dowers. Last week his attention turned to Joshua DaSilva, nephew of the managing director. Connell told ‘Silky’ that he had asked his nephew to bring Dowers back to his office after the interview. Connell also accused Bertille of a fast-forwarded hiring process during which he told the defendant not to bother with the interview, and that she had got the job.

The prominent businessman had denied all of this.

However, last week, Joshua was asked whether Dowers went through the normal hiring process or if she walked a “special path,” and the general manager replied that “There was no special path, she seemed over qualified…” Her application was done in writing according to Joshua, and he outlined that she was a married Seventh Day Adventist who had a university degree and was seeking short term employment in order to finish her studies in medicine.

Joshua explained that in the position they were looking for, they were looking for stability.

The lawyer sought clarification on the issue of stability.

“Yes she’s stable…I mean if you’re married then you have to be stable sir,” Joshua returned.

Connell then asked him if Bertille was unstable since he’s not married. “I wouldn’t answer that part of it,” the witness stated.

It was then suggested that there was no application in writing. The reply was that there was and the contents were read in front of Dowers.

He was asked if he verified this, and the reply was that he had verified that she was married to one Raffique Dowers through informal requests. The general manager claimed that the only thing that he didn’t get around to verifying was whether she was a full Seventh Day Adventist.

Although claiming he doesn’t have a preference for employing Seventh Day Adventists, he noted “However, in the vein of her whole Christian-like way in the company, I employed her. She was genuflecting, bowing to people, saying very nice things” he informed, adding “she came off as a very nice person.”

The general manager said

the interview lasted 40 minutes, but Connell submitted that it lasted five minutes, and that the defendant was asked where she was from, if she had any experience as a secretary, which she answered no, “And your third and final question before the phone rang with your uncle on the other line, was that, ‘you think you can handle it?’” the lawyer told him.

Joshua responded yes to the questions, but said the phone never rang.

Later on in the cross examination Connell also questioned him about expressing concerns to his co-workers that Dowers was Nigerian. However, Joshua indicated that this concern was raised before Dowers was hired and, “It was a miniature concern, because she being a Christian, holiness, upright citizenship that she is.”

“Her being married and being a Seventh Day Adventist would have balanced out,” he also said.

Dowers was hired on a probationary basis, and received a salary of $700 to $800 before National Insurance Services (NIS) deductions.

She worked at the Star Garage for many months before being “promoted” to a customs broker, which position she attained after “volunteering” for it, according to Joshua.

The Nigerian/Vincentian stopped working at the Garage in February of 2019 after an alleged altercation between her and another employee; Marlon Stephenson. In March of 2019 she was picked up by police at the Argyle International Airport (AIA) and given multiple charges related to credit card fraud and theft.

Since then the number of charges has grown to 55, and they include illegal use of the credit card, and cheques of Bertille/ Star Garage, and the conversion of criminal property between August 1, 2018 and January 31, 2019. The monetary figure related to the alleged offences is said to be over $100,000.

Crown counsel Rose-Ann Richardson is prosecuting the case, which has been adjourned and is slated to continue on February 17.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne is presiding over the trial.