Pregnant accused gets bail

An eight months pregnant woman and her brother were yesterday granted bail when they appeared before a Chaguanas magistrate charged with the $5 million heist at Piarco International airport two weeks ago.

Kizzy Bernard, 38, was granted $200,000 bail while her brother Kenol Singh, 35, was granted $300,000 bail by Senior Magistrate Jo-Anne Connor in the First Court.

Charges were read separately to Singh and Bernard. The charges alleged that on December 6, both had in their possession property knowing it to be criminal property.

The charge was laid indictably and the accused siblings were not called upon to plead. Another charge read to Bernard alleged that between December 5 and 6, she received $250,000 knowing it to be stolen. This charge was also laid indictably.

Attorney Kiev Chesney, who represented the two, told the court that Bernard is eight months pregnant. Chesney said she has three children with the youngest being two.

The attorney said his client’s pregnancy is high risk and complicated.

A medical report was produced to the court to support this claim. Chesney said that his client’s unborn child has an abnormality with its left kidney.

Chesney told the magistrate that Bernard’s expected due date is January 18. The attorney said her client has a fixed place of abode and her passport was already seized. In making a bail application for Singh, Chesney said he has two children aged two and ten. Singh told the court he works as a mason and has a fixed place of abode in Longdenville, less than 100 metres from the police post.

Court prosecutor Sgt Pooran Bisnath said Singh has matters pending and was out on bail when the offences for which he is charged, were committed. In granting Singh bail, Magistrate Connor ordered him to report to the Longdenville Police Post by 6 pm every Saturday. The case was adjourned to January 16.