$1m security firm theft case drags on

(CNS): A local woman accused of stealing close to $1 million when she worked as a financial controller at major security firm has still not answered the charges against her more than a year after she was first charged with theft, fraud, forgery and money laundering. The case against Patti Jane Ebanks (49) was adjourned again Friday after the defence asked for more time to examine the more than 35,000 emails relating to the case before Ebanks’ answers the charges.

The judge raised concerns over a further adjournment as he said that the case had been adjourned on the last occasion for the same reasons and that Ebanks had been scheduled to answer the charges Friday. Indicating that this would be the last chance, Justice Malcolm Swift set the case for another mention on 31 July and stated that Ebanks must enter her plea on that occasion. Ebanks was bailed again to appear.

The former accountant with The Security Centre is accused of taking the cash from her employers over an almost three-year period via forged cheques.