KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — A 30-year-old woman who won more than a quarter million EC dollars (one EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) in a Caribbean lottery game five years ago, has been released on EC$8,000 bail after she was charged with stealing EC$76,244 from her employer.

The woman, Julianna Aberdeen, appeared before the Serious Offences Court on Monday and the matter was transferred to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court for later on Tuesday.

Aberdeen, who won EC$280,000 in the lottery, pleaded not guilty to the charge that between September4, 2023 and March 6, 2024, she dishonestly, with a view to gain for herself or another, the sum of EC$76,244, and falsified accounts made or required for accounting purposes with intent to cause loss to GraceKennedy Money Services Ltd.

She also pleaded not guilty to a charge that between September 4, 2023 and March 6, 2024, she stole EC$76,244 in cash, the property of GraceKennedy Money Services Ltd.

The prosecution did not object to bail but asked the court to order that Aberdeen surrender her travel documents.

Aberdeen was not represented at the court hearing.

In February 2018, Aberdeen won EC$280,000 as one of three winners of an EC$840,000 prize in the Super 6 lottery game. She shared the winning prize with two St Lucians.

When Aberdeen collected her winnings, the then 23-year-old said she had no immediate plans for the money

“It came as a surprise to me. I didn’t expect it so at this moment, I don’t have any plans,” she said then.