An employee of the Public Transportation Board (PTB) and a 38-year-old Hamilton Parish woman appeared briefly in Magistrates? Court yesterday on charges of stealing and receiving $20,000 worth of bus tickets.

PTB employee Sandra Wade, 42, from Barrack Street, St. George?s, pleaded not guilty to stealing bus tickets between March and April this year. She also pleaded not guilty to receiving stolen bus tickets during the same period.

Michelle Outerbridge Smith, 38, from Harlem Heights, pleaded not guilty to receiving a quantity of stolen bus tickets between March and April this year.

Wade, represented by lawyer Charles Richardson, was released on $1,000 bail, while Smith, represented by Larry Scott, was released on $700 bail.

The pair return to court on July 13 for trial. Police launched an investigation last month when it was discovered that a large number of bus tickets were allegedly being sold illegally. PTB director Dan Simmons said three staff members were allegedly involved in the theft ? two supervisors and one cashier.