WEDNESDAY, JULY 25: Fraudster couple Kyril Burrows and Delcina Bean-Burrows were today jailed for eight years and six years respectively for pocketing almost $543,000 of public money.
Burrows, 48, and Bean-Burrows, 49, were convicted of all but one of 35 charges in May.
The couple falsified documents and stole funds between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009.
Today during sentencing, Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons called Burrows the “planner” of the operation.
She said: “You were in a position of trust that you abused.
“Were it not for that position, you wouldn’t have succeeded in carrying out the dishonesty for so long.”
Ms Simmons also said as a result of this case, there has been a “loss of confidence” in the civil service.
"There has been no acknowledgment of guilt on your part.
"Without acknowledgment of guilt and taking into consideration the fact of no assistance to the police, it's appropriate in sentencing principles to consider these to be aggravating features."
Before sentencing, both defendants were asked whether they wanted to address the court.
Burrows said: “No, I don’t have anything.”
His wife said: “I would like to say that apart from the pain and heartache that this case has caused our family, we are very, very sorry for this bad light that the case has brought on the civil service.
“There are several individuals who work very hard and who are honest.
“Unfortunately, because of the notoriety of this case, I am afraid they will be seen in a negative light.
“For that I am sorry.”
But Bean-Burrows also maintained her innocence.
“I want the court to know that because I maintain my innocence doesn’t mean I condone stealing in any way or abuse of trust.
“I am ready to pay my debt to society as Your Honour sees fit.”
Burrows, a former Government buildings manager, was found guilty of 15 charges of cheating, obtaining money transfers by deception, money laundering and false accounting.
Bean-Burrows was convicted of two counts of money laundering.
Together, the couple was also found guilty of 17 counts of cheating Government and obtaining money transfers by deception.
During the trial, the court heard the couple built their Turkey Hill, St George's home on Government's dime.
They were ordered to pay back $526,000 to the Government within two years. If they fail to pay that amount, another two years will be tacked onto their sentences.
Time spent in custody will be taken into consideration.