A Grove, New Scheme woman was yesterday placed on $100,000 bail by a city court, after she denied embezzling nearly $4 million from Gafsons Industries Limited, where she was employed.
The 27-year-old woman Akila Wong, of Lot 217 Grove New Scheme, pleaded not guilty when the two charges of fraudulent embezzlement were read to her by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
It was alleged that on August 25, at Land of Canaan, she, being a clerk or servant at Gafson’s Industries Limited, fraudulently embezzled $2,732,408, taken into her possession in the name of, or on account of her employer, Gafson’s Limited.
It was further alleged that she, on August 26, at Land of Canaan, fraudulently embezzled $1 million, taken into possession by her, for, or in the name of or on account of her employer, Gafson’s Limited.
She pleaded not guilty to both charges read.
Wong’s attorney pleaded for reasonable bail to be granted to the defendant, noting that she was placed on $100,000 station bail, and that over the months that investigations have been ongoing, she has not posed a flight risk and has been in full cooperation with the police.
The attorney called Wong a “sacrificial lamb” in the whole affair, stating that there are multiple persons in charge of operations at the institution.
After there were no objections by police prosecutor Deniro Jones, Wong was placed on $100,000 bail by the Chief Magistrate and the matter has been adjourned to January 10, when it will be heard at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
