Former head of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce who admitted that she dishonestly received a transfer of more than $15,000 was given a suspended sentence in Magistrates’ Court.
Danielle Riviere, 48, pleaded guilty back in April to dishonestly obtaining $15,725 via a money transfer.
Supported by family and friends in court, Ms Riviere apologised for her actions, saying: “I take whole responsibility for what happened.
“It was poor judgment on my part. It does not reflect who I am,” she added.
As first reported by TNN News The offence, committed on September 27 last year, resulted in the Pembroke resident’s dismissal as the Chamber’s Chief Executive for “serious misconduct relating to financial matters”.
She apologised at the time “for disappointing those who have trusted and supported me over time” on social media.
“I have always tried to own my mistakes, so today I will try to do the same,” she wrote.
“I made the worst decision and mistake of my life in a moment of weakness and desperation and transferred just over $15,000 to a personal account.
“Even though I regretted my actions immediately, there is no excuse. I sincerely apologise to the staff, board, members of the chamber and even the community of Bermuda.”
The incident was described as “a deliberate and calculated” act by Crown Counsel Daniel Kitsen-Walters.
He did acknowledge that apart from the offence, Riviere had otherwise been of good character.
But he argued that a conditional discharge would not be in the public interest, given the amount of cash taken and Riviere’s position at the time.
He asked for either a fine between $3,000 and $5,000 or a nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
Defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher, who called for a conditional discharge, told the court that her client acted in “a moment of desperation” to help her family.
She noted that her client had three children abroad in school who depended on their father, from whom she had separated.
Ms Christopher also stated that payments from the children’s father had defaulted and that Riviere transferred the money with the intention of paying it back.
While noting that her client had been honest and apologetic, Ms Christopher stated that since the incident, her client “wears her offence every day before her community”.
“Given the public nature of the apology, there’s no chance that someone’s going to look at this and say ‘I’m going to do this too and only get a conditional discharge’,” she added.
Magistrate Auralee Cassidy sentenced Riviere to six months’ imprisonment suspended for a year.
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