A 22-year-old clerk who allegedly stole several cheques worth some $39 million from Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprises yesterday appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ court and was remanded to prison.
It is alleged that between March and July at Georgetown, Natasha Persaud of Lot 5 Edun Street, Tucville, who was employed as a clerk with Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprise stole 13 Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) cheques valued in excess of $39 million.
According to the first charge, on March 20, Persaud stole one DBL cheque valued in excess of $2 million belonging to her employer.
On July 11, the woman allegedly stole another cheque valued in excess of $3 million.
On July 2, the defendant reportedly stole a DBL cheque for the sum of $3,464,124.
It is also alleged that between July 22 and 25 the accused stole another cheque valued in excess of $9 million.
Between July 15 and 18, the clerk reportedly stole a cheque for the sum of $4,408,625.
Furthermore, on June 29, another charge said, Persaud stole a cheque valued in excess of $2 million.
The woman was also charged with stealing six other DBL cheques from her employer, valued in excess of $16 million.
After the 13 charges were read to her, Persaud was not required to plead to the indictable offences.
Attorney Melville Duke made an application for bail for his client. It was however objected to by the prosecution on the grounds that the accused posed a flight risk.
Presenting the police facts to the court, the prosecution said the accused was employed at the enterprise and was responsible for writing cheques for the payments of customers. The prosecution highlighted that the cheques were pre-signed by two authorized signatories and given to the accused so that in the event the two signatories are not there, customers could still be paid.
During the month of July, the prosecution said, the company was doing bank reconciliation when it was discovered that 13 pre-signed cheques were stolen and written for three persons who were not employed by the company and were not entitled to any payment.
The prosecution explained that the value of those cheques was in excess of $39 million. After the discovery, the court was told, the accused migrated to Suriname.
A report was made and an investigation was conducted. The prosecution also stated that the woman had purchased a Toyota 212 motor car with the proceeds she allegedly obtained.
On January 3, the prosecution explained, the accused was arrested and she admitted to the allegation under caution.
The court was told that one of the three persons to whom the cheques were written, was also detained and charged.
After listening to the facts, acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry objected to bail and the matter was transferred to Court Two where the woman was further remanded to prison.
The matter will be called again on January 17.
