A St James woman accused of stealing more than $220,000 from her employer reached an agreement to repay through alternative dispute resolution during her appearance in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.

Julia Heaven appeared before presiding judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton charged with larceny as a servant.

According to court records, Heaven is employed as a cashier at the complainant’s place of business.

Between May 31 and June 1 the business owner allegedly discovered that $51,040 in float money entrusted to the accused woman had gone missing.

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that $178,041 in two-day sales money had also gone missing.

Heaven repaid $12,000 but still owes her employer some $217,000.

A report was made to the police and, when cautioned, Heaven reportedly said: “Mi never tief di money; a lend mi lend it to a customer.”

Following the presentation of the allegations, Judge Fairclough-Hylton inquired whether the parties were amenable to pursuing mediation, to which they mutually consented.

The proceedings were temporarily halted to allow for discussions with a mediator, which led to the parties reaching a mutually satisfactory resolution.

The judge then set the matter for mention on July 10 to confirm that the payment has been made.

Heaven’s bail was extended until that date.

British Woman on cocaine rap fined $900k

A British woman, who was arrested at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, after cocaine was found hidden in Jamaican craft items in her luggage, was spared prison time and instead given a monetary penalty when she appeared in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.

Sianece Clarke-Johnson, 22, of Culvert Road, London, England, pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export cocaine.

In mitigation, Clarke-Johnson’s lawyer, King’s Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson, stated that he would not characterise the situation as one of duress, but rather one in which his client was influenced when she took the items.

He told the court that his client was suffering from depression and asked the judge to consider the time she had already spent in custody and give her an appropriate discount.

Tavares-Finson also pointed to the positive comments made about the defendant in the social enquiry report.

Presiding judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton also referred to the social enquiry report as she noted that it was not unfavourable.

The judge also acknowledged the defendant’s interview with the probation officers during which she indicated the circumstances under which she took the contraband.

In handing down the sentence, Fairclough-Hylton ordered Clarke-Johnson to pay a $300,000 fine or serve six months in prison for being in possession of cocaine.

A similar fine or jail time was imposed for dealing in cocaine and attempting to export cocaine, with the sentences to run concurrently if the fines are not paid.

The court was told that about 3:00 pm on February 26 a police team was conducting operations when Clarke-Johnson was accosted while she was checking-in for a flight to London.

After a preliminary interview, the police became suspicious and carried out a search of her luggage, which revealed 1.6 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in Jamaican craft items.

The estimated street value of the cocaine in the United Kingdom is £38,000.

She was arrested and subsequently charged.