Fraud accused woman’s bail up by $1m

A High Court judge yesterday varied the bail of businesswoman Vicky Boodram to $4 million to cover two money-laundering and three fraud charges against her. Boodram, 30, of Siparia, was initially granted $3 million bail on the money-laundering charges at the San Fernando Magistrates Court and $250,000 bail on the fraud charges in the Siparia Magistrates Court.

However, Boodram’s lawyer Jason Jackson went before Justice Andre Mondesir in the San Fernando High Court seeking one bail amount to cover the five charges. Jackson was successful but the judge increased the bail sum from $3.25 million to $4 million. In total Boodram, the operator of Ship Ahoy Travel Services, is on $10 million bail.

Last year she appeared before a Port-of Spain magistrate on 19 fraud charges for allegedly accepting money from customers for cruises which never materialised. She was granted $6 million bail. While on bail for those offences she was re-arrested last month by the Fraud Squad and slapped with another five charges. Two of those charges accused her of buying a Mercedes Benz and a house and land in Palmiste for $2 million.

While her attorney was making the High Court application yesterday morning, Boodram was appearing before Siparia Magistrate Gail Gonzales on the fraud charges. That matter was adjourned to November 2. She is expected to reappear in the San Fernando court on October 18.

While on bail Boodram will have to surrender her passport and report to the Siparia Police Station four times a week. Checks revealed that up to late yesterday Boodram was still at the Women’s Prison in Arouca.