Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Permanent Secretary Sharon Hicks was yesterday charged with accepting $200,000 as a bribe to process payment requests for the representative of a security firm.
Hicks, who was held after a sting operation in October, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The charge against her states that on October 7, 2021 at 251-252 Thomas and Quamina streets, Georgetown, while being an agent employed by the Government of Guyana, she obtained for herself, $200,000, from Heramainie Chintamanie as an inducement or reward for processing the payment requests for security services provided
Hicks, who was represented by attorney-at-law Sase Gunraj, was released on $100,000 bail and told to return to court on December 20 for statements.
The Guyana Police Force received legal advice for a charge to be bought against Hicks, who has been under investigation since October.
Hicks, who had been functioning as Permanent Secretary of the ministry since 2020, was arrested after she was allegedly caught in a sting operation accepting a bribe from a contractor who provides security services. Subsequently, she was placed on “substantial” bail.
