Mother of 2 charged with theft of over $600,000 from former employer

A former clerk of the St Joseph Mercy Hospital, Parade Street, Kingston, Georgetown, is now on bail after she was charged with stealing more than $600,000 from her former workplace.
Toni Parris, 24, of Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, appeared on Friday before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where she was arraigned for larceny by a clerk or servant.
It is alleged that on November 27, 2024, Parris stole $643,060 from the hospital while employed as a clerk. She pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Her attorney, in a bail application, told the court that Parris is a single mother of two young children – ages four and five – and that she is now earning a living as a hairdresser after being let go by the hospital in December 2024.
The lawyer stated that her client followed proper procedures on the day in question, placing all funds into the designated vault, as per hospital protocol.
Additionally, the defence pointed out that the area where Parris worked was under surveillance and also insisted that she poses no flight risk.
However, the prosecution opposed bail, emphasising the serious nature of the allegation. The prosecutor stated that according to information from the hospital, some 16 patients had conducted business on the day in question, but Parris failed to submit a required financial report.
They claimed that although a security camera was reportedly positioned at her workstation, it was not operational at the time of the incident.
In response to the prosecutor’s statement that the theft occurred on Parris’s birthday, Magistrate McGusty asked whether it was being suggested that the money was taken as a birthday gift, since the prosecutor had mentioned it was her birthday. The prosecutor replied, “Not really,” but maintained that the timing was suspicious.
The court heard that Parris had previously been granted station bail after being arrested and remained in the region for more than four months after the initial investigation.
Magistrate McGusty released Parris on $75,000 bail. The case will continue on May 9.