STRANGER IN MY HOUSE

SEETA PERSAD

The owner of the house where fraud accused Vicky Boodram was caught hiding in by police on Thursday evening, yesterday said she did not know Boodram and insisted her daughter, who has been arrested for harbouring the prison escapee, is innocent.

“My daughter did not know the person staying in our house was a fugitive at all,” Jennifer Atwaters said during an interview at her Sunset Avenue, Lachoos Road, Penal home.

Atwaters said an older daughter who was recently released from prison, was responsible for bringing Boodram to their home but was not there when police arrested the fugitive. Atwater insisted that her 32-year-old daughter, who was the only other person home at the time Boodram was arrested, is innocent.

The daughter who is a Lotto booth operator remains in custody and is expected to be charged with harbouring a fugitive. Many residents yesterday claimed they did not know Boodram was in their midst and were very surprised when police cars and SUVs swooped down at 6.40 pm, ending Boodram’s three days of freedom.

On Monday, Boodram left the Women’s Prison located in the Golden Grove Prison compound in Arouca after two police officers showed prison officers a release warrant issued by the Tunapuna Magistrates Court commanding that she be released so as to attend “night court.” That document was found to be bogus.

The two police officers, one male and the other female, were detained and interviewed by members of the Professional Standards Bureau where at first they said they were merely following the instruction given by a senior officer. The male officer later confessed to planning and executing the escape with Boodram after he had fallen in love with her.

The female officer has since been released while the policeman who hails from Arima, remains in custody and is facing several criminals charges. Atwaters yesterday begged the police to set her daughter free. “My daughter does not have a criminal record. She never had to face the courts for any matter,” the anguished woman cried.

“It was my older daughter who said someone was coming to pick Boodram up and we were waiting for this person to come by,” Atwaters said. She revealed that her older daughter met Boodram while in prison and they became friends.