A woman, who was charged with fraudulent misappropriation, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday when she pleaded not guilty and was placed on $200,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Bridgette Benjamin, of Block ‘X’ Field, Sophia, denied that she, between Friday, January 8, 2016, and Monday, December 9, 2019, at Guyana Power and Light Inc, Main Street, Georgetown, being solely entrusted with the sum of $2,769,282, by June Johnson in order that she may pay the said money on her account at Guyana Power and Light Inc, fraudulently misappropriated the money to her own use and benefit.

According to the prosecution, Benjamin is a former employee of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. Herself and Johnson are known to each other. It is alleged between Friday, January 8, 2016, and Monday, December 9, 2019, Johnson gave Benjamin a sum of $8,910,938 in the form of Citizen Bank cheques to pay on her, Johnson, account at GPL.

However, Benjamin instead, paid only $6,142,112 on Johnson’s account and converted the remaining sum of money, $2,769,282, to her own use and benefit. Johnson reported the matter to GPL, who directed her to the police. Johnson then made a report and an investigation was launched. Benjamin was subsequently charged for the offence.

The matter was adjourned until Wednesday, April 7, 2021.