Vicky Boodram, husband on $11m bail
By Akile Simon
akile.simon@trinidadexpress.com Story Created: May 7, 2011 at 11:48 PM ECT
(Story Updated: May 7, 2011 at 11:48 PM ECT )
TRAVEL agency businesswoman Vicky Boodram-Arjoonsingh and her husband, Ravi Arjoonsingh, were yesterday granted a total of $11 million in bail after they were slapped with a total of 20 alleged fraud charges by Fraud Squad officers.
Vicky and Ravi were charged by officers of the Fraud Squad yesterday upon receipt of instructions from Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gasprad, on Friday, in relation to an alleged $9 million fraud.
Up to late last evening, attorneys for Ravi, which included Jagdeo Singh, Suneesh Singh and Kiel Taklalsingh, were at the Central Police Station on St Vincent Street, attempting to secure their clients' release.
The couple, who owns Boodram's Travel & Tours and Ship Ahoy Cruises, were jointly charged with 14 counts of demanding money by virtue of a forged document. Ravi was also slapped with an additional charge of uttering a valuable security while his wife was slapped with three counts of the same charge. Vicky was further charged with three counts of forgery of a valuable certificate.
Justice of the Peace of Trinidad and Tobago, Ackbar Khan gave the couple bail totaling $11 million. On the 14 joint charges, Khan placed the couple on joint bail in the sum of $9 million, while Vicky was placed on $2 million on six charges.
Khan ordered that the police seize the couple's passports and they must report to the Siparia Police Station on Mondays and Fridays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
He furthered ordered that persons seeking to take the bail for the couple must present a certified deed showing the value of the property. The couple were also instructed to appear before the Fraud Court at the Port of Spain Magistrates' Court tomorrow.
Khan, the Sunday Express was reliably informed, rejected attempts by Boodram's parents, Ramdass Boodram and Indra Lall, to secure Vicky's bail. This happened after Vicky's parents submitted a deed for property which was recently transferred into Ramdass and Lall's names on March 31.
The charges against Vicky and Ravi came after months of investigations by officers of the Fraud Squad led by Supt Edward Castillo, which included ASPs Daniel, Williams, Insp Phagoo, Sgts Singh and Dipchan and WPC Sookdeo.
The couple were arrested last Wednesday at their 24 Ganbal Street, De Gannes Village, Siparia, around 8 a.m. and taken to the Fraud Squad offices at Richmond Street, Port of Spain. The couple were being investigated for allegedly failing to refund customers money paid for cruise packages that never happened. The cruises were scheduled for April and August.
It's about time........