Lawmen have arrested and charged five young women in connection with the alleged disappearance of more than $100,000 worth of clothing, and other personal items from Season’s Fashion store in St. George’s.
THE NEW TODAY understands that Stealing by Reason of Employment charges were laid by police for the offences that were committed between last October and December against Curlian Phillip, who is originally from Beausejour, Carriacou but resides at La Sagesse, St. David, Eri Baptiste, and Joan Phillip of Darbeau, St. George, and Petra Ross of Grand Roy, St. John, who are all former employees of the establishment.
The fifth female suspect has been identified as Gail Richards of Beaulieu, St. George, who was not employed at the fashion store.
The matter came up before Chief Magistrate Teddy St. Louis at the St. George’s Magistrate’s Court last week Friday but it has been adjourned to September 21.
It is not clear whether the five women have retained counsel in the matter brought against them in what was dubbed a massive investigation into a festering string of robberies at Season’s Fashion.
The investigation was sparked by a complaint made to the police by the store owner, who claimed to have noticed a significant decline in the company’s profit margin, and that several items recently purchased were unaccounted for with no trace or evidence that they were sold.
Stealing by reason of employment is said to be a growing concern by several business owners on the island.
There are reports that both the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) have been receiving increasing reports against employees for theft at the workplace.
One business operator told THE NEW TODAY that he recently provided the FIU with footage from his CCTV system of an organised scheme between some employees to sell goods and pocket the funds.