Businessman charged with larceny

The chief financial officer of a Corporate Area engineering company made his first appearance in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday to answer to charges of larceny.

Charged with 19 counts of larceny as a servant is George Miller.

Allegations are that the accused, Miller, 35, of a St Andrew address, was employed at the company as its chief financial officer since 2015. His core function was to maintain and monitor the company's finances. Miller had access to the National Commercial Bank online banking platforms, which allowed him to transfer funds from the company's accounts to clients and suppliers on behalf of the company.

It is further alleged that between December 2021 and January, it was discovered that during the period from April 2018 to November 2021, Miller pocketed $31 million.

Miller has denied the allegations. Attorney-at-law Pierre Rogers, who was holding for Miller's lawyer, Davion Vassell, submitted to Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague that there was no intention to deprive the company of the funds being alleged.

"We are asking that under the circumstances, if we could be given the opportunity to do what ought to be done," Rogers told the court. The prosecution added that further checks by investigators suggest that an additional $4 million will be added to the purse being alleged.

Miller, who is currently on bail in the sum of $400,000, was made the subject of a fingerprint order. Cole-Montague also ordered him to surrender his travel documents and a stop order was imposed. He is to report to the police once weekly and is not to have contact or communication with the complainants. The judge also ordered Miller not to visit the company or to conduct business on its behalf. He is to return to court on March 3 when at that time monies are expected to be paid.