With conspiracy trial ongoing…
WELL-KNOWN theatre actress Sonia Yarde, 29, of Lot 4 Norton Street, Wortmanville, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday, charged with embezzlement.

She pleaded not guilty to the offence, particulars of which said, between January 1, 1996 and July 31, 2007, being employed at the Ministry of Health, she fraudulently embezzled $78,472.

Her lawyer, Mr. Nigel Hughes told the Court that the now self-employed caregiver is currently on $100,000 bail in a conspiracy case in relation to the same matter and the trial is ongoing.

Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, who requested a date for statements to be served, said Yarde collected money from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on behalf of the Ministry, but never handed over the cash.

She was ordered to post $60,000 surety until January 19.
Yarde was previously charged, on August 18, 2008, with presenting a forged Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) to the Ministry.

It was alleged that she uttered the forgery and conspired to commit a felony by, on July 23, 1996, with intent to defraud, tendering the document to the Ministry, purporting to show that she had obtained grade twos in Biology and Caribbean History and grade ones in English Language, Principles of Business and Social Studies.

Another allegation is that between January 1, 1996 and July 31 2007, Yarde conspired to forge the same CSEC certificate.