Earlier on you saw councilor Phillip Willoughby speak about his post as Deputy Mayor. That senior rank in City Hall also explains why he was in the mayor's office in February of this year when three employees were confronted about pilfering sixty-thousand dollars from the council's cash pans.
One of those employees was Farah Jones. Earlier this week, you heard her tell us that she only took two thousand dollars ot pay for her dialysis treatment. But she signed a confession, she says under threat of losing her job. Willoughby was in the room when she did it and he said there was no threat upon her.
Jules Vasquez
"Were you in that room with Keera Ford, Marvin James and Farah Jones? You were in that room when that confession was made about the involvement of the scam. Now we've heard from Farah that she says she was not involved with that and she only got $2,000.00 and she is being accused of $30,000.00. Have you heard what Farah had to say and do you believe her, do you sympathize with her?"
Phillip Willoughby, Deputy Mayor
"I sympathize with her as a mother, I sympathize with her as diabetic (sic) patient who is going through challenging and trying times, but again it was a written statement that she wrote to the Council stating what had occurred. That in regards to how the financial situation occurred is still there."
Jules Vasquez
"She said she signed it under the duress of the fact that, if you sign it you will keep your job; if you do not sign this confession, you are gone. You were in that room."
Phillip Willoughby
"Yes, I don't believe that was the conversation as far as I go."
Farah Jones has not been charged but says she is confident her innocence will bear out when she is. She is accused of the theft of thirty thousand dollars.
