A woman accused of a stealing $2.3M in cash and jewellery from her employer was yesterday remanded to prison.
Sharmila Roopchand, 44, a domestic worker, appeared at the Georgetown Magis-trates’ Court charged with the offence of breaking and entering the dwelling house of Sheria Shaw and stealing a quantity of cash and jewellery valued $2.5M. Magistrate Priya Beharry read the indictable charge to Roopchand, who was not required to plea. Beharry remanded the mother of one to prison until December 16.
The prosecution, in giving the facts of the case, told the court that on November 19, Shaw secured her premises and left for Suriname. Upon her return, Shaw realised that her house was broken into and a quantity of cash and jewellery missing.
The prosecutor said police investigations revealed that the items were buried in the defendant’s yard. The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, and said that the evidence against the accused is “strong.”
But attorney Mohamed Zafar, who represented the defendant, asked that Roopchand be admitted to reasonable bail on the grounds that she has no previous convictions, poses no risk of flight, has a fixed address and has been cooperating with investigators.
Zafar, noting that Roopchand has been employed by Shaw as a domestic worker for 14 years, found it implausible that she would “after all these years wait to steal from her employer.” “For fourteen years she’s had the opportunity to commit such an act, and she didn’t,” Zafar said. He further said that Shaw once shared a relationship with one of Roopchand’s relatives, who may have ventured into the house and removed the valuables. He said also that the yard in which the items are alleged to have been buried is occupied by a number of persons and not just Roopchand.
The case was transferred to the Providence Magis-trates’ Court, where it will continue.
