Government worker charged with theft of $154,300 and corruption, given bail

A junior clerk of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Police Force (RSVGPF) has been allowed $150,000 bail after being charged with stealing $154,300 from the Government.

Mitra-Ann Prescott, a 37-year-old mother of Harmony Hall, was brought to the Serious Offences Court (SOC) on Monday, December 30 by a number of officers, including the arresting officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP) Hesran Ballantyne.

She donned shades to shield part of her features from the cameras pointed at her, and made her way up the court stairs after taking them off. She hugged a woman waiting outside before heading inside the courtroom.

There, Prescott was charged with six counts, in relation to three different periods of time, in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019.

In 2017, she is charged that between August 11 and December 29 of that year, in Kingstown, she stole $6500, the property of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines(SVG).

For this crime, she also received a charge of corruption which reads that she, within that period, being employed in the Public Service, and being charged with the performance of her duty as a Junior Clerk attached to the police force, “by virtue of such employment, corruptly agreed to receive the sum of $6500 on account of invoices in the name of Gary’s Garage, Gareth Sayers and Gareth Ranson Sayers processed by her in the discharge of the duties of her office. The property of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Two more charges of theft and corruption allegedly committed between January 17 and December 21, 2018, in relation to a sum of $87,400, were also put to her.

Lastly, Prescott was also charged that she, between the period January 2 and August 14, 2019, stole $60,400 from the Government and committed corruption while doing so.

Prescott, who is represented by lawyer Jomo Thomas, responded not guilty to all charges.

The prosecution raised no objections to her bail but asked that reporting conditions to the police station in her district be attached to it.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne allowed for the charges in the sum of $150,000 with a surety. She told Prescott to report to the Calliaqua police station every Monday, and surrender all travel documents. Stop notices are also in force against her at all ports of entry and exit.

The matter was transferred to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court (KMC) where it is listed to be heard on February 25, 2020.