A Devonshire woman appeared in court yesterday charged with stealing $1.24 million from bowling league funds.

Jean Marion Burgess, who is accused of writing 170 forged cheques, faces a total of ten counts in connection with the alleged fraud. The 54-year-old is charged with stealing $210,620 from the Bermuda Bowling Federation, between April and October, 2003; $610,746 from the Junior Bowling League, between September 2002 and October 2003; and, $420,740 from the Commercial Bowling League, between May 2002 and October 2003.

She is also accused of false accounting with intent to defraud when in her position as clerk for the three bowling bodies she allegedly changed documents that belonged to the Federation and Commercial League, between September 2002 and October 2003.

Burgess allegedly forged 19 cheques totalling $183,270 said to be signed by June Dill; 49 cheques for $532,490 said to be signed by Karon Wolffe; and, 102 cheques for $416,490 in the name of Mary Gaye Dean.

The final three counts relate to charges of handing over, or uttering, those cheques.

Burgess, of Loyal Hill Road, Devonshire, stood impassively as the charges were read at Magistrates? Court yesterday.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told the defendant her case would be tried in the Supreme Court and that she would not have to enter pleas to the ten counts when she appeared at the lower court yesterday.

Burgess, represented by lawyer Patricia Harvey, was granted $10,000 bail with one surety. The court ordered her to surrender her passport.

The case was adjourned until November 14 for a mention in Magistrates? Court.