The policeman who allegedly forged a document that allowed inmate Vicky Boodram to have a short stint outside the prison eight years ago has gone missing.
In 2017, police constables Lisa Navarro and LeVon Sylvester were jointly charged with misbehaviour in public office, after being accused of uttering a forged judicial note, thereby facilitating the unlawful release of Boodram on November 27, 2017, from the Women’s Prison.
The two officers and Boodram are collectively charged with aiding Boodram, then a person remanded in the lawful custody of the State at the Golden Grove Prison, in escaping from the said prison, contrary to common law.
Boodram’s friend, Roxanne Cudjoe, was charged with harbouring her at a house at Lachoos Road, Penal, with intent to impede Boodram’s arrest.
When the matter was called yesterday at the High Court before Master Rehanna Hosein, state attorney Hannah Kaljam-Ali requested a summons for Sylvester, who did not appear and reportedly cannot be found.
Absent yesterday as well was Cudjoe. However, Master Hosein was informed that there was a mix-up in the adjournment dates, resulting in her absence. She is expected to be present at the next court hearing on October 7.
The State sought a short adjournment to make submissions on why Boodram should not be immediately freed, having spent more time in prison awaiting trial than the maximum sentence for the offence.
Boodram, who was represented by Stephen Wilson, claimed she was granted bail in 2022 but there are no documents before the courts to confirm that. Yesterday, both the State and the court promised to verify her claims.
On September 19, Boodram, 43, was freed of over 100 fraud charges due to delays by the prosecution in adhering to deadlines for filing evidence needed for a sufficiency hearing.
Wilson, of the Public Defenders’ Department (PDD), applied to have her discharged based on the failure of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to meet the extended deadlines.
Elaine Green, SC, who represented the DPP’s Office, admitted that three deadlines were not complied with.
Boodram, the owner of now-defunct Boodram Travel and Ship Ahoy Cruises Ltd, was accused of defrauding numerous former clients of more than $1 million they paid for a cruise in April 2011 that did not materialise.
Boodram was initially charged with 109 fraud offences, but two of the charges were dismissed because the prosecution could offer no evidence in those matters, as the victims had died.
She was also charged with two money laundering offences.
Those charges alleged that in September 2010, Boodram purchased a Mercedes-Benz for $621,042.45 and in October 2010, bought a house and land at Palmiste, San Fernando, for more than $2 million, knowing that the money was derived through fraudulent means.
