A former head of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce who dishonestly received a transfer of more than $15,000 has been given a suspended sentence.

Danielle Riviere, 48, appeared in Magistrates’ Court yesterday after she pleaded guilty in April to dishonestly obtaining $15,725 through money transfer.

During her sentencing hearing, Riviere apologised for her actions. She was supported by family and friends.

She said: “I take whole responsibility for what happened.

“It was poor judgment on my part. It does not reflect who I am.”

The Chamber of Commerce told The Royal Gazette that the sentencing allowed it to “fully turn the page” and move on with its work.

Riviere, from Pembroke, committed the offence on September 27 last year and was terminated as the chamber’s chief executive for “serious misconduct relating to financial matters” less than a month later.

She posted on social media at the time: “I apologise for disappointing those who have trusted and supported me over time.

“I have always tried to own my mistakes, so today I will try to do the same. I made the worst decision and mistake of my life in a moment of weakness and desperation and transferred just over $15,000 to a personal account.

“Even though I regretted my actions immediately, there is no excuse. I sincerely apologise to the staff, board, members of the chamber and even the community of Bermuda.”

Riviere was charged in court on February 14 and admitted the offence two months later.

Daniel Kitson-Walters, for the Crown, described the incident as a “deliberate and calculated” act that abused the island’s longstanding business practices.

He added that Riviere’s actions not only took advantage of “innocent people” inside and out of the Chamber of Commerce, but had tarnished Bermuda’s business reputation.

Mr Kitson-Walters acknowledged that Riviere had otherwise been of good character and was at a low risk of reoffending.

However, he added that a conditional discharge would not be in the public interest, given the amount of cash taken and Riviere’s position at the time.

Mr Kitson-Walters said: “These crimes, people tend to say, have no victims, but we put people in this level of trust because we trusted them.

“When someone breaches this level of trust, a conditional discharge gives the wrong message.”

He instead asked for either a fine between $3,000 and $5,000 or a nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Elizabeth Christopher, for the defence, said that her client acted in “a moment of desperation” to help her family and should be given a conditional discharge.

She explained that Riviere had three children overseas in school who relied on their father, from whom she had separated.

Ms Christopher added that payments from their father had defaulted and that Riviere transferred the money with the intention of paying it back.

She added that anyone who abused their position with an employer was responsible for a breach of trust and that Riviere’s former position should not play a factor.

Ms Christopher added that, if her client’s actions were as damaging as the Crown made them out to be, there would have been victim impact statements.

She said that, since the incident, her client had been honest and apologetic about what she did and “wears her offence every day before her community”.

Ms Christopher added: “Given the public nature of the apology, there’s no chance that someone’s going to look at this and say ‘I’m going to do this too and only get a conditional discharge’.”

Magistrate Auralee Cassidy sentenced Riviere to six months’ imprisonment and suspended it for 12 months.

As a result, Riviere will not be jailed if she stays out of trouble for a year — although the sentence will remain on her record.

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