Pump attendant accused of stealing $2M fuel, embezzlement

A pump attendant was placed on $250,000 bail yesterday after she denied stealing over two million dollars’ worth of fuel and embezzling $48,000 from her employer.

Bibi Hamza, 22, of 379 Parika, West Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to both charges when they were read to her by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts complex. It is alleged that Hamza, between December 25, 2013 and January 8, 2014, stole 6,533 litres of diesel, valued at $1.7M and 3,432 litres of gasoline worth $1.002M. She was also accused of embezzling $48,000, between the same dates, from Perline Murray, proprietor of Lams Service Station in Lethem.

According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, Hamza, while employed as a pump attendant at the Lams Service Station, stole the fuel and the money. The matter was reported and investigations were conducted. She was subsequently arrested and charged.

Prosecutor Grant raised no objections to bail. Hamza was instead ordered to report to the ‘F’ Division police station every Friday. She was granted $125,000 bail on each of her charges and is scheduled to return to court on February 3.