A former regional director of the Government’s Rapid Response Unit stunned the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday when he admitted that he stole $3.2 million from the water relief programme and used some of it to help finance the ruling People’s National Party’s 2002 general election campaign.

Peter Hewitt, who was in charge of the Rapid Response southern region, pleaded guilty to embezzling $3,275,903 in cash and cheques from Government coffers. The sum was a portion of the money collected from persons who bought water from state-owned trucks in the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth during the period spanning September 2001-June 2003.

The revelation was made by the convicted man’s sister after Resident Magistrate Martin Gayle, who presided over the case, asked Hewitt whether he had any assets that he could sell to reimburse the Rapid Response Unit.

Hewitt shook his head.

Hewitt’s sister, who was seated in the gallery, put her hand up to get the magistrate’s attention.

Martin directed the question to her: “What happen sister, the family has any land?

“Him say him use the money and run campaign for PNP in Manchester, Your Honour,” the woman replied with an exhausted look on her face.

The remark stunned the courtroom into silence. Even the magistrate was visibly taken aback and his jaw dropped in amazement.

“This is interesting,” RM Gayle said as members of the gallery uttered expletives sotto voce.

When Hewitt was questioned as to the truth of his sister’s statement, he confirmed what the woman said.

“You are saying you used the money to run election?” the judge asked.

“I used part of it, Your Honour,” Hewitt said with his head bowed.

Hewitt, 24, was sentenced to 18 months at hard labour. He was arrested in September 2003 and was granted bail. However, he was taken back into custody and was a guest of the state for six months before being sentenced yesterday.

He was not represented by an attorney.

Police from the Fraud Squad say Hewitt is part of a two-man team that masterminded the embezzlement of the funds.

The other man is still being sought by the police.

The Rapid Response Unit falls under the water and housing ministry and was set up in 1999 by former minister Karl Blythe to truck water to schools and communities with low or no water supply.

The entire management team employed to the unit was changed after it was discovered that money was missing in 2002.