Civil servant slapped with 130 charges

History was created on Tuesday at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court when over 130 charges were slapped on one person, making it the greatest number ever in this country.{{more}}

Marcia Davis-Burgin, 49, civil servant of Richland Park, was arrested and charged with 65 counts of theft and 65 counts of obtaining cash by deception from the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines. She pleaded not guilty to each charge. The offences were allegedly committed between December 2005 and January 2007. The monies amounted to over $30,000

The prosecution did not object to Burgin’s bail and she was placed on $40,000 bail with two sureties of $20,000 each. Burgin was ordered to surrender all her travel documents and report to the Mesopotamia Police Station every Monday between 6am and 6pm.

While reading the charges, Senior Magistrate Donald Browne got tired and had to take breaks from time to time. Even the defendant had to be seated on a chair in the dock to listen to all the charges read to her. And with an insouciant look on her face, she repeated not guilty 130 times.

Allister “Tombstone” Smith held the previous record of 35 charges at one time pertaining to deception.

The matter was adjourned to April 29, 2008.