COURT GIVES HER MORE TIME TO GET THE MONEY
Sentencing of former NCB employee Khadene Thomas who stole $74 million from the bank’s clients has been put off until June 27.
Thomas appeared in the St Ann Parish Court, St Ann’s Bay, Wednesday, June 12 for sentencing. However, after plea mitigation by her lawyer Matthew Hyatt, Judge Lorna Montague Williams put off sentencing until June 27. It is to give Thomas more time to raise the full amount to pay back the bank.
(Matthew Hyatt attorney representing Thomas says she wants to make full restitution)
The lawyer told the Court that Ms Thomas wanted more time to make full restitution, or to pay back in fill what she had stolen.
Thomas who was employed to the wealth management division at the St Ann’s Bay branch of NCB stole nearly $75 million over a two-year period.
Mr Hyatt who is representing Thomas said she had raised more than US$10,000 (or more than J$15,000,000 equivalent). He said she needed time to get the balance. Mr Hyatt told reporters outside the court, Wednesday, that Ms Thomas was expecting to make “full restitution”. He said even if the full amount was not available to be paid over on or before June 27 the court could still make an order in that regard. However, he said the judge would not delay sentencing to await full restitution.
Mr Hyatt said he had indicated to the court that he was seeking a suspended sentence for Thomas. He said he expected the court to consider the fact that she had pleaded guilty, taken responsibility and was seeking to make full restitution.
Thomas pleaded guilty in February to three counts of larceny as a servant and 31 counts of uttering forged documents.
