ST JAMES, Jamaica — A woman accused of stealing over $700,000 from her employers began making payments towards her restitution at a hearing in the St James Parish Court on Monday.

Maureen Richards, who hails from St James, has been charged with embezzlement.

She is represented by attorney-at-law Keetja Murrel.

According to court records, Richards, who worked as a housekeeper for a couple who operates a business, was assigned the responsibility of collecting money generated by the couple’s business.

The male complainant, who was abroad at the time, returned to Jamaica on November 7, last year, and discovered that between September 1 and November 7, Richards misappropriated a total of $739,000 from the business money she was assigned to collect.

At Monday’s hearing, Richards told the court that she only took $552,000 and that she had $220,000 in her possession to begin paying restitution payments.

At that moment, the male complainant, the only complainant present, informed the court that he had spoken with Richards and that they had reached an out-of-court settlement.

The sitting judge, Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley, then informed both parties that she would prefer something in writing for formality.

The case was briefly adjourned so that the parties could speak with a probation officer who was present in court to formalise the agreement.

When the matter was revisited, Murrel informed the court that her client had agreed to repay the money in instalments.

Richards then paid $220,000 to the complainant for her first instalment, with another $110,000 due on her next court date, March 27, and another $110,000 due on April 27.

Owing to the complainant’s difficulties in attending court, the judge instructed him to arrange for someone to collect the money on his behalf each month.

Richards’ bail was subsequently extended until March 27.