A barmaid is to go on trial accused of embezzling almost £20,000 from the Carnoustie branch of the Royal British Legion.
Jennifer Sim, 52, of the town’s Ravensby Road, will stand trial on January 24 next year after a not guilty plea was tendered on her behalf by a solicitor.
Sim did not appear in the dock at Forfar Sheriff Court on Tuesday due to work commitments and she has also been excused from the next calling of the case which was set down for December 20.
She denies that between May 23, 2013 and January 9, 2014, she embezzled £19,450 while employed as head bar person of the Royal British Legion in Carnoustie’s Dundee Street.
A defence motion to adjourn a previously-set trial date and fix new dates due to legal aid issues was unopposed.
The court heard the defence case at this time was “not in a great state of preparation” as Sim’s case had only recently been transferred to another legal firm.
Addressing the sheriff, depute fiscal Jill Drummond said: “I did speak to her solicitor and he advised me they were not in a great state of preparation at this point having just been instructed.
“It is quite a lengthy file.”
Sim’s defence agent said her client works full-time and asked for her attendance to be excused from the intermediate diet on December 20.
Sheriff Richard McFarlane agreed that Sim could be excused.
The Dundee Street club is one of 170 Legion Scotland branches across Scotland.
Each branch is run by volunteers.
The local branch provides comradeship and community to veterans and their families.
Dedicated members and volunteers organise and fundraise for a year round calendar of events.
