Delroy Andrews Joseph Williams

TWO former employees of Banks DIH Limited appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday, charged with fraudulent conversion committed while they were in the employ.

Joseph Williams, 24, of Lot 22 John Street, Werk-en-Rust and Delroy Andrews, 19, of Lot 5 Melanie Damishana Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, both pleaded not guilty to the joint charge.

Particulars of the July 8 offence said the duo, being solely entrusted, by the company, with a quantity of beverages valued $728,900, to sell and return the proceeds, fraudulently converted the money to their own use and benefit.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Glen Hanoman, for Williams who drove a sales truck, said the defendant was responsible for delivering drinks and collecting cash.

But the lawyer said the money canister was defective and could not be locked and it was only after Williams went back to the office that he discovered the sum missing.

Hanoman said, while Williams is not alleging a robbery, someone else must have taken the money.

Defence Counsel maintained that Williams was a model employee and citizen.

Andrews, who was a sales helper, proclaimed his own innocence and each of the defendants was put on $100,000 bail until September 1.