A 75-year-old man has appeared before a Master of the High Court, charged with 32 counts of money laundering.
Ernest Bailey, of Arima, was also charged with obtaining TT$141,195, by false pretenses, when he appeared before Master Indira Chinebass on Wednesday 19th March, 2025.
He was granted bail with surety in the sum of TT$400,000 to cover all the charges and ordered to report to a Police Station twice a month.
The matter was postponed to May 16th, 2025.
A victim reported to police that she met a man who introduced himself as a Law Clerk who worked for an Attorney-at-Law and could arrange for the preparation of the Deed of Conveyance for a parcel of land. She claims the man told her the cost of the preparation of the Deed was TT$145,000, and any payments for the job must be made to him.
The victim proceeded to pay the man four cheques totalling TT$141,195. The cheques were deposited and the victim informed that the Deed would be prepared by the Attorney and delivered to her. The Deed was never prepared or delivered and when the victim approached the Attorney, they denied ever collecting money for the job. Attempts to have the money refunded from the man proved futile.
A team of officers from Fraud Squad East Office conducted investigations into the matter and subsequently arrested a male suspect on March 17th, 2025.
Investigations were supervised by Snr. Supt. Michael Jackman, Supt. Arnold Lutchman, ASP Bisnath and Insp. Thomas, all of Fraud Squad.
Bailey was charged with the offences by Cpl Gadar, also of Fraud Squad, on Tuesday 18th March, 2025.