Former gov’t worker sentenced for theft

Former cashier at the Water and Sewerage Department Threacha Berry, who was convicted of theft, has been released from Her Majesty’s Prison following a sentencing hearing in the High Court.

Last month, Justice Nicola Byer ordered the Virgin Gorda resident remanded after the offender pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and four counts of false accounting.

When she returned before Justice Byer this week, Berry received a suspended sentence of one-and-a-half year imprisonment for each count of theft. She will serve the time only if she commits another crime within the next two years. All sentences for theft would run concurrently (at the same time).

In relation to false accounting, Berry received an eight-month suspended sentence for each count of the charge. She will serve these concurrent sentences only if she re-offends within a year’s time.

Furthermore, the Virgin Gorda resident was put on a $5,000 bond to keep the peace for 18 months.

Justice Byer also ordered Berry to pay $12,965.63 restitution to the victim. If she does not pay up this amount within six months, she will serve one year in prison.

Meanwhile, the charges against Berry were in relation to incidents that happened between 2009 and 2012 while she was employed as a cashier at the Water and Sewerage Department.

Details of the case were not read aloud during Berry’s latest court appearances. But BVI News Online understands that she reportedly stole more than $12,000 from the said Government department.

Berry was represented by attorneys-at-law Ruthilia Maximea and Ayodeji Bernard.