They were placed on a bond to keep the peace for nine months after the virtual complainant in the matter declined to proceed with the case against them when they appeared on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Forty-three-year-old Dawn Washington of Middle Road, La Penitence and her friend Renata Lewis of ‘F’ Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, both pleaded not guilty to the charge of simple larceny.
They denied that on November 12 they stole US$250 equivalent to
$50,000 from George Braithwaite.
Braithwaite stated that the incident was an unfortunate one since a relative of Washington had given him some money in Barbados to give her when he came to Guyana. “In the space of two minutes the money disappeared since I had just left the wallet on the table to get them something to drink and come back,” stated Braithwaite.
He said “in light of the circumstance I think that both women have learnt their lesson and they should be given one more chance since they both are mothers.”
Prosecutor Kevin London then stated that a relative of Washington had given Braithwaite US$100 to give to her when he travelled to Guyana.
He said that on the day in question the women went to Braithwaite’s hotel room uninvited but were accepted into the room by Braithwaite who left his wallet with the money in it on a table as he was preparing refreshments.
He said that when Braithwaite returned he noticed that the wallet was in a different position to the way he had left it, so he made a check for his money and discovered it missing.
Braithwaite then called in the police and the women were arrested and later charged.
The prosecutor stated that while at the station a thorough search was conducted on the women and the police discovered the money concealed in the women’s privates.
He said that one woman had US$100 hidden while the other had US$150.
“It’s so unfortunate since she (Washington) didn’t have to go through all of that because the money was hers all along.”
