THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Sharon Hicks, on Friday, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court accused of corruptly obtaining money from a businessman and was later released on $100,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Hicks, 42, of Onderneeming, West Coast Demerara, denied that on October 7, 2021, at 251-252 Thomas and Quamina Streets, Georgetown, while being an agent employed by the Government of Guyana, she obtained from Heramainie Chintamanie, for herself, $200,000 as an inducement or reward for processing the payment requests for security services provided.

Attorney Sase Gunraj entered an appearance for Hicks who was released on bail and told to return to court on December 20, for report.

In October, she became the subject of an investigation after she was found in possession of marked bills during a sting operation carried out by the police.

She was arrested at her Quamina and Thomas Streets, South Cummingsburg office for allegedly demanding money by menace and was later placed on station bail.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had told this newspaper that a sting operation was conducted where marked bills were reportedly paid to the PS by the businessman. Those were the bills that were found in her possession.

He said the police were contacted pertaining to Hicks’ alleged demands for payments from the man. Reports indicate that the payments were being made for several months and that the businessman was allegedly told that he would not receive contracts if the monies demanded were not paid monthly.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, in a release shortly after Hicks’ arrest had said that on October 7, 2021, she was sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the police investigation into the matter.

“The Ministry also wishes to respond to the issues circulating in the public about its officials. It was the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, whose recommendation resulted in the appointment of Ms. Hicks to the position of Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs under the PPP/C Government.

Additionally, there was one occasion when the Permanent Secretary was on a seven days sick leave where the Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) was assigned the duties in her absence, putting to rest the claim that the DPS was executing the duties of the Permanent Secretary while she was on duty.

The ministry wishes to state that at no time was any vehicle registered to the ministry assigned to any close relative of the minister,” the release concluded.