A Corporation of Hamilton employee was accused yesterday of accepting “a few drinks” and “lunch and a drink“ in return for falsifying parking tickets.

A second employee was accused in Magistrates’ Court of not inputting a parking ticket into the computer system.

Paula Thomas, 63, from Smith’s, and Lindell Foster, 48, from Devonshire, each pleaded not guilty to not putting the tickets into the Corporation of Hamilton’s system.

Ms Thomas also denied lying about the status of another parking ticket to benefit Aneika Francis.

Both offences allegedly occurred between July and August 2019.

Cassandra Trott, 56, from Pembroke, pleaded not guilty to bribing Ms Thomas by offering her “a few drinks“ on one occasion and ”lunch and a drink“ on the second as a reward for not putting her parking tickets through the system between November 2019 and January 2020, and Ms Thomas denied accepting both bribes at about the same time.

Ms Thomas also denied not issuing a summons to Ms Trott for non-payment of another parking ticket “in anticipation of agreeing to receive or accept an advantage” from her.

She finally denied attempting to obstruct the course of justice by concealing a summons issued to her as a result of having parking tickets.

Both offences allegedly occurred between 2021 and 2022.

Alan Richards, the prosecutor, confirmed that Ms Thomas and Ms Foster worked for the Corporation of Hamilton at the time of the alleged offences.

A City spokeswoman said: “Two serving staff members from the Corporation of Hamilton were today charged in Magistrates’ Court.

“As a result, they have been placed on administrative leave while their respective cases are being processed.

“As this matter is now before the courts, there will be no further communication on this subject until there is a formal resolution.”

All three chose to have their case heard in Magistrates’ Court.

Senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson adjourned the case to May 12 and released the defendants on $5,000 bail until then.

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