Boodram granted bail, but court documents missing

Fraud accused Vicky Boodram spent Christmas with her family after she secured bail in the sum of $2 million and released from the Women’s Prison in Arouca. A handcuff-free Boodram on Thursday reappeared in the San Fernando Magistrates Court on 109 fraud charges and two money-laundering charges.

 In total Boodram, 31, is on $12 million bail on 133 charges arising out of allegations of financial dishonesty in conducting the affairs of her businesses Boodram's Travel Agency and Ship Ahoy Cruise Ltd. Boodram appeared previously in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court, together with her estranged husband Ravi Arjoonsingh, on 19  fraud charges. She appeared in the Siparia Magistrates Court also on three fraud charges.

However, she and Arjoonsingh were re-arrested and jointly slapped with another 109 fraud-related charges. Arjoonsingh first secured bail of $2 million on those charges. Boodram, of Siparia, was also granted $2 million bail, but up to her last court appearance on December 6 remained in custody.

Yesterday both Arjoonsingh and Boodram reappeared in the First Court, but stood some distance apart. Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington asked Boodram when she had secured bail, since her bail bond was not attached to the court documents.

“I don’t have your bail bond here,” he told Boodram. Wellington said he was seeing Arjoonsingh’s bail bond only. Boodram said she might have been granted bail in late November. Asked where she secured bail, Boodram said in prison. The magistrate then sought to find out from prosecutor Cleyon Seedan who was prosecuting the matters. “The file has been sent to the DPP’s office,” Seedan replied.

Attorney Kiel Taklalsingh, who held for Arjoonsingh’s attorney Jagdeo Singh, asked for a long adjournment. Boodram said her attorney Larry Williams was in the High Court. The matter was adjourned to May 22.