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Fitzroy-Douglas, centre, pleaded guilty to stealing EC$389,155.95 from Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He is seen here, escorted by detectives, on his way to court on Monday. (iWN photo)
Fitzroy-Douglas, centre, pleaded guilty to stealing EC$389,155.95 from Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He is seen here, escorted by detectives, on his way to court on Monday. (iWN photo)
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Fitzroy Douglas, a 27-year-old mechanic, was on Monday granted EC$60,000 bail while his co-accused, Yvonne Patterson, a 46-year-old bank clerk at the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (BoSVG), was denied bail and ordered to return to court on Thursday on charges that they stole EC$389,155.95 from the bank.

Douglas, of Murray’s Village, pleaded guilty to the charges, while Patterson, a Green Hill resident, maintained her innocence.

Douglas stole EC$53,571.95 from the bank on June 18, 2020 and a further EC$335,584 on July 23, 2020.

The offences were committed in Kingstown.

At the arraignment at the Serious Offences Court, on Monday, Patterson also pleaded not guilty to charges that on June 18, 2020 and July 23, 2020, at Kingstown, that she dishonestly, with a view to causing loss to BoSVG in the sums of EC$53,571.95 and EC$335,584, falsified the record of deposit to the account of Fitzroy Jr. Izarus Marcus Douglas (her co-accused) in the sums mentioned above.

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Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche objected to Patterson’s bail, telling the court that investigators had discovered that evidence was being tampered with and destroyed.

The prosecutor said that the Crown feared that if Patterson is granted bail, tampering with evidence would was likely to continue.

Delplesche said that the prosecution was asking for time to get evidence, including documents, before they are destroyed.

He also asked that Douglas’ sentencing be adjourned pending the outcome of the charges against Patterson.

However, counsel Jomo Thomas, who represented Patterson, objected strongly to Delplesche’s application.

Yvonne Patterson 2
Yvonne Patterson pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded into custody until Thursday, for bail review. (iWN photo)

Thomas said he was aghast at the fact that the prosecution was asking that Patterson be denied bail on the grounds that the accused woman might tamper with evidence.

He said that case law is replete with sufficient cases that establish that seriousness of offences is not a basis for the denial of bail.

Thomas said that bail would be denied if there is a serious chance or possibility that a person is a serial offender, may fail to surrender to the court at the requisite time, or may interfere with witnesses.

The lawyer said that the charges point to “a certain conclusiveness” and, consequently, “it flies in the face of these charges” for the prosecution in a democratic society, where liberty is a fundamental right, to ask that Patterson, who he said evidently has “physical limitations would destroy evidence”.

Patterson had to be assisted in walking as she arrived and left the court and to enter the dock.

Thomas said he assumed that there was sufficient evidence against the woman and, therefore, four charges were brought against her.  

He said that nothing in the charges indicate any real further investigation with which Patterson would be able to interfere.

The lawyer said that the court should issue bail with conditions, including surrender of travel documents, and reporting conditions “that can be made more stringent”.

He said that looking at the fact that Patterson has physical difficulties, he did not think that justice would be served by continuing her detention.

Thomas said that the accused woman has serious back problems and had been sitting on a bench at the Criminal Investigations Department in Kingstown since Friday.

He said this has aggravated her condition and that she sometimes has spasms.

Yvonne Patterson
Detectives assist Yvonne Patterson, centre, as she is escorted to court on Monday. The accused woman’s lawyer said she has serious back problem and sometimes has spasms. (iWN photo)

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne asked about Patterson’s employment status and Delplesche said she had been suspended from work.

Browne then asked what access Patterson has to bank records.

Delplesche said that there were certain documents, including cheques, with which Patterson had dealt, that could not be accounted for.

The prosecutor said that the evidence was that some of these documents were destroyed and the investigators are trying to recover others.

But Thomas questioned how Patterson could have access to the bank’s records after her suspension from work.

He said that if Patterson had electronic access to bank records, it would be “the most foolhardy thing in the world” for the bank to not lock the portal in light of the allegations against her.

“If the prosecution is saying she can use electronic codes to get access, it just doesn’t make sense,” Thomas said, adding that in the end, it might turn out that the prosecution is engaging in a fishing expedition.

Browne, however, remanded Patterson into custody and set bail review for Thursday.

Vynnette Frederick, along with Bayliss Frederick, is representing Douglas and applied for bail on his behalf.

In addition to the EC$60,000 bail bond, Douglas was ordered to surrender his travel documents and to report to the Central Police Station every day between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

iWitness News understands that police were able to recover all but some EC$10,000 of the money.

Detective Sergeant Biorn Duncan of the Major Crime Unit is leading the investigation.

7 replies on “Mechanic steals $389,000 from bank; bank clerk pleads not guilty”

  1. Julius Carter says:

    There is something I’m not getting here… This story does sound right.. how can Douglas steal money from the bank… Did he walk over the other side and pocket or bag this money… What is his relationship with the woman… Steal isn’t the charge here unless he took it without no one knowing… Shouldnt he be charge for aid and abetting… .. hmmmm SMH … What’s really going on here

  2. She is suspended from the bank what craziness is this how can she tamper with documents.these police men wouldn’t learn to stop put politics in everything
    This is not fair trial why the their dishonestly take the money post to his account.
    He greedy never send it back to the bank.

    Who ever set her up justice will prevail.

    God is not dead she is not a thief.
    She can hardly walk .

    Where is she going to go.
    If you siezed he trave documents.

    Wicked ness.
    The head crook thief still in the bosvg

  3. I do not excuse this young man for his admitted criminal behaviour, but when we have a society such as the one we have, what on earth can we expect? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejnuYRMa_wk

    But watch yo nuh dread, dat is a whole lata donzi fo de brerhreen to spend one time dread! NewYyark may bee in mind! Still it nah rite! Nah rite, remember wah Jah say, yo nah fo do dem tings!

  4. Some people want to live above their means that is why they are subject to temptation of all kinds.

  5. From my deduction it would appear that the allegation is centered on an alleged deposit by the accused which was subsequently withdrawn. Were the accused and the co-conspirator acted in concert? Its early game, too early to tell before a thorough investigation is done.

  6. How come all this money went missing..that quickly
    BOSVG. U can track down a false $20 if it come in ur doors. But over $300.000 walk right out ur back door..u all need to be put in a barrel an roll away

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