The massive fraud committed by Harrison Isaac Jr. and Teketa Thompkins damaged Government’s reputation, Accountant General Joyce Hayward admitted yesterday.

During the court case against the pair it was revealed that Isaac - a Management Accountant who masterminded the $2 million raid on a Government bank account - lied about his qualifications. According to legal documents, his eight-month swindle did not come to light earlier because it coincided with a breakdown in computer software meant to combat fraud.

When he was finally caught out it emerged that Isaac did not hold a licence as a Certified Public Accountant as he had claimed, but his employer never checked his qualifications.

Addressing the judge yesterday Mrs. Hayward said “significant” damage was done to Government’s reputation.

“The newspapers have been here every time the trial has gone on. Every time we have an anti-fraud workshop, this case is mentioned. “The taxpayers are looking for some type of restitution, some of type of justice, and because of the reputation that has been damaged we would like to see the severest punishment available be given,” she said.

Mrs. Hayward told the court the total loss suffered through the crime exceeded the $2 million stolen as Government had to pay attorneys to try to trace the money, plus interest on cash borrowed to make up for the missing amount.

Speaking after the hearing, she told The Royal Gazette: “I think it was a just sentence—I think it was fair. Hopefully the tax payer will feel that justice has been done.”However, she confirmed that despite the best efforts of investigators, 80 to 90 percent of the stolen cash remains missing and is likely to remain so.

Mrs. Hayward has previously stressed that security loopholes have been tightened since the fraud, which took place in 2003 and 2004. Isaac has been ordered to make repayments to the court, and assets including his car have been seized in a bid to recoup the loss. Thompkins is likely to face similar forfeiture and repayment orders in future, but it is unlikely Government will recover much according to her lawyer Paul Madden.

“She’s broke. She has no money. For the rest of her life she will be stuck with this. The authorities have not seized her assets - she has none,” he told The Royal Gazette.