Nightclub worker’s £17,000 theft case dropped

Tuesday 18 September 2018

A former nightclub worker has spoken of her desire to get her life back on track after a “horrible” months-long £17,000 theft case against her was dropped this month.

Former Koko manager and licensee Alexandra le Garignon was accused of stealing £17,681 from her employer earlier this year.

The 27-year-old was charged with five counts of theft against Koko and Kasbar operators Palladium Leisure Limited, while she worked for them between May 2013 and September 2016, in the Magistrate's Court earlier this year.

But, as many as seven months after the charges were brought, the Prosecution this month decided to drop the case against her.

Ms Le Garignon told Express that it had been abandoned as they had "no evidence" to substantiate the allegations.

Pictured: Esplanade-based club Koko, where Ms Le Garignon worked.

A spokesperson for the Law Officers' Department confirmed the prosecution against Ms Le Garignon had been "discontinued" but declined to comment on the reasons behind it.

Speaking after the decision to drop the case, the young woman explained that the months in and out of court had been "horrible" and that she was unable to work as a result of the allegations. She now says she wants to put everything behind her and "live her life."

Ms Le Garignon explained that she had to pay for a lawyer when the case was first opened against her. "I had to pay the legal fees myself. It was really hard as I wasn't really working. My lawyer then suggested I went to legal aid when I couldn't pay anymore."

Ms Le Garignon, who says she didn't receive any apologies after the case was abandoned, is hoping she will get some of her legal fees reimbursed.

The bar where she worked, Koko, closed its doors on the Esplanade for the final time last June. It has now been demolished to make way for a six-storey office building.