Charge dismissed against former Amerindian Affairs PS accused of corrupt transaction
Senior Magistrate Leron Daly has dismissed the charge against former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Sharon Hicks, after the complainant did not want to proceed with the matter.
On her arraignment in court last year, Hicks had denied the charge when it was read her to by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The charge had that on October 7, 2021, at 251-252 Thomas and Quamina Streets, Georgetown, while being an agent employed by the Government of Guyana, she obtained from Heramainie Chintamanie, for herself, $200,000 as an inducement or reward for processing the payment requests for security services provided.
She was released on $100,000 bail following her first court appearance. Attorney-at-Law Sase Gunraj represented the former PS.
It was reported that a sting operation using marked money was set up by the Police following a report by the businessman.
The money was given to the businessman, who then paid the Permanent Secretary $200,000 to ensure that his security firm continued to get contracts from the Ministry.
Soon after the money was handed over, Hicks was arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary, Georgetown, where she was questioned.
Hicks was appointed as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in October 2021.
