A 37-year-old Dominican who was charged with stealing money from a man, after he fell asleep in a hotel room with her, had the matter dismissed against her, due to her husband paying the victim $40,000 in compensation.

Zilineli Richards, a cook of Parika Back Dam, Essequibo, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, after spending the five days on remand for the charge.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on September 4, 2019, at Parika, Richards stole $340,000 cash, property of Wayne Yahya.
According to reports, on September 3, 2019, Richard and Yahya met at the Parika Junction Area. It is alleged that Yahya invited Richard to spend the remainder of the night with him at a hotel.

While in the hotel room, Yahya counted his money and put it into the pocket of a pair of pants which he placed into a wardrobe.

The next day, September 4, 2019, about 05:00 hours, Yahya woke and Richards was nowhere in the room and his pair of pants was on the ground.
When he checked his pants, the money was missing. He reported the matter to the police.

The police launched an investigation and Richards was arrested. Under caution, it is alleged that Richards told the police “I only carried away $91,000 from de man pants pocket”. She then took the rank to her room and handed over the money.

On Wednesday, Yahya informed the court that he will no longer be proceeding in the matter against Richards since the defendant’s husband had paid him $40,000 in compensation.
The victim asked the court to give Richards a second chance since she is the mother of a young baby.

The Chief Magistrate dismissed the matter against Richards and imposed a 12-month bond on her to keep the peace. Breaking the bond will result in Richards’ imprisonment for 6 months.

The Chief Magistrate also ordered that the sum of $91,000 which is currently lodged at the Parika Police Station be returned to Yahya.