BIBI Ameena Hamza, 22, of Lot 397 Parika, East Bank Essequibo, was, yesterday, granted $250,000 bail on charges of larceny by clerk and embezzlement.She appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and pleaded not guilty to the charges, one of which said, between Wednesday, December 25, 2013 and January 8, 2014, at Lethem, Rupununi, she stole 6,532 litres of diesel and 3,932 litres of gasolene, together valued $2.7M.
The other charge that said during the same period, being employed as a clerk or servant at Lam’s Service Station, she embezzled the sum of $48,000 cash, taken into possession by her or in the name or account of her employer.
Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said the defendant was employed with Alisha Laikram at Lam’s Service Station, Lethem, as a pump attendant and, during the time, she embezzled the money and stole the fuel.
The prosecutor did not object to bail, stating that, during the investigations, the defendant fully cooperated with the police.
Attorney-at law Mr. Jerome Khan, representing Hamza, said she was lured to work at the gas station in Lethem since May 2013 and, during that time, she suffered from dengue fever and received treatment at the Lethem Hospital.
He added that, at the time, the owner’s son was in charge of the business and the only person who had access to the cash box.
It was after Hamza resumed duty that she discovered the money missing, the lawyer said.
He added his instructions were that the defendant suspected the owner’s son who took the money and sent it to his mother-in-law in Boa Vista, Brazil, due to some family issues.
Hamza was admitted to bail, on condition that she reports every Friday, until March 3, at Eve Leary, to Sergeant Holder.