KINGSTON, Jamaica — A woman will have until October to repay over $6 million she allegedly stole while working as an employee at a credit union or go to trial.

Dianne Thompson appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday to answer to more than 20 counts of simple larceny, unauthorised access to computer data and engaging in a transaction involving criminal property.

The prosecution alleged that Thompson was working at a financial institution when a client received a financial statement with a transaction she did not recognise. Upon querying the transaction, it was found that the money had been allegedly transferred to another account without the client’s authority.

The owner of the receiving account was out of the country, but it is alleged that Thompson had access to the woman’s card and was reportedly caught on camera using it.

Thompson was initially charged with stealing over $2,600,000 but further investigations found similar transactions with a total loss in excess of $6 million.

The accused has begun restitution with the initial $2,600,000 sum already repaid to the institution.

Thompson’s lawyer explained that she had been instructed to proceed to trial; however, a date for case management to facilitate the completion of case files was set for October 14th.

Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell cautioned the woman to make every effort to pay up before that time.

— Dana Malcolm