A 46-year-old woman is claiming that a pastor who is authorised to manage her sickly father's pension has been pocketing it for several years.

Beverly Watson* told THE STAR yesterday that her 77-year-old father, who lived and worked in the United States as a mechanic, has been living at the nursing home from about 2001.

Watson, the only child for her father, told THE STAR that her father has a mental problem and he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

According to Watson, her suspicions led her to check on her father's financial standing with the nursing home late last year, after she was tipped off that the home was not being paid and that she owes over $400,000.

"I managed to get a financial statement from the church office and I showed it to him. He told me that I caught him with his pants down because he used the money for his personal gain. I went to the fraud squad but they didn't take a formal report. I was advised that since I have informed the embassy of what is taking place, they will advise how to move forward," she said.

She further reasoned, "I am the one who used to get the pension, but they told lies on me that I was using the money to buy car and so on and that is how they started sending him the pension. My father's pension got cut off from January because I informed them of what is taking place. They send me some paperwork to fill out and that is what I am dealing with so that they can send the money to me. I want to expose what is going on because the church is shielding him. I have given them month end to pay over the outstanding monies," Watsonsaid.

Meanwhile, when THE STAR made contact with the pastor lastnight, he denied the allegations and claimed that Watsonis a liar.

money worries

According to the reverend, Watsonis making these accusations because she is probably broke and is in money worries.

He said that when Watsontook her father to the home she eventually stopped paying for him. "The lady that used to manage the home told me that the money was not being paid and that was when the embassy called me and asked me if I would manage the pension. I managed to keep the man in the home up until this day because what was being sent couldn't really cover the expenses," the pastor told THE STAR.

He further reasoned, "what I have for them is $125,000 because the embassy told me that if he dies I have to bury him. She seems to be in a money problem and she is trying to blackmail me and the church. She is a liar and I am going to my lawyers tomorrow (today)," the reverend said.

Name changed*