Bishop says $1M missing after secretary claims she kept what she was owed

A church secretary accused of holding on to millions of dollars entrusted to her by her bishop walked into court with a bag of cash, insisting she had finally settled the debt over salary payments—but the clergyman says more than $1 million is still missing.

Alecia Livermore, who served as secretary for an online church, appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court last Thursday charged with fraudulent conversion.

During the hearing, Livermore handed over $372,000, which she claimed was the remaining balance she owed the complainant.

The payment, however, did little to settle the dispute.

While defence attorney Vanessa Taylor told the court that her client had now repaid the full amount at the centre of the case, the complainant, a bishop, disputed the claim through the clerk of court, maintaining that more than $1 million remains outstanding.

The court heard that Livermore had previously repaid $500,000 on one occasion and $1.7 million on another before the matter reached court.

With conflicting figures before the court, Taylor and the clerk agreed to examine the payment records to determine whether the funds have been fully accounted for.

The allegations stem from a breakdown in the working relationship between Livermore and the bishop over salary payments.

According to the allegations, the bishop entrusted Livermore with $2.5 million, which he asked her to keep in her personal bank account and use to make transfers to various individuals on his behalf.

The court heard that although Livermore was employed as the church's full-time secretary, she allegedly was not paid for her work. She eventually resigned, and a verbal dispute reportedly developed between the pair.

Livermore also claimed she limited communication with the bishop after he allegedly threatened her.

Despite the strained relationship, she reportedly continued making transfers on his instructions until communication between them broke down completely.

The bishop later reported the matter to the police, leading to Livermore's arrest and charge.

Her bail was extended, and the case was postponed until November 5.

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