Woman denies near $1m theft from security firm

Cayman Islands courts, George Town (Photo by Jaida Alexander)

(CNS): Patti Jane Ebanks (49), the former financial controller at the Security Centre Ltd, has pleaded not guilty to 23 charges relating to the theft of US$937,592.62 from the company. The local woman is accused of stealing the money between April 2010 and June 2013. During that time she is alleged to have written fourteen cheques ranging from a value of $1,985 to $3,485 without authority and forged the signature of one of the firm’s managers on seven others, the amounts of which have not yet been disclosed.

Ebanks will face trail in March next year in relation to the 23 charges, which include one count of theft, one of transferring criminal property, 14 counts of making documents without authority and seven of forgery.

The case has dragged on for almost 18 months as a result, lawyers have said, of the need to examine some 35,000 emails released in the disclosure of the case.

Ebanks had first appeared in court in March last year after she was charged by police.