THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Sharon Hicks, was, on Friday, freed from a corruption charge after the victim opted not to offer evidence against her.

Back in December 2021, Hicks, 42, of Onderneeming, West Coast Demerara, made her first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was released on $100,000 bail.

Hicks had 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.

Her case was transferred to Senior Magistrate Leron Daly for trial.

On Friday, the case was fixed for continuation of trial. However, during the hearing, the court was made aware of the victim’s refusal to give evidence.

As a result, Hicks was freed.

The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that in October 2021, Hicks became the subject of an investigation after she was allegedly 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 in which marked bills were reportedly paid to the PS by the businessman. Those were the bills that were reportedly 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, Hicks was sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the police investigation into the matter.