State ready to close Vicky's cruise-ship case

THE State called its final witness in the million-dollar cruise-ship case involving Vicky Boodram and ex-husband Dave Arjoonsingh. Special prosecutor Elaine Green will close the case on May 14, having tendered, through Sgt Vinelle Bassarath, the final witness statements.

It brought to 50 the number tendered in the preliminary inquiry before senior magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine in the San Fernando magistrates' court. Through Bassarath, Green also tendered witness statements of 43 receipts allegedly issued from Boodram’s Travel & Ship Ahoy Cruise Ltd.

Based on cruise-ship ticket sales, Boodram and Arjoonsingh are facing 107 charges which alleged that between July 2010 and January 2011, at La Romaine, with intent to defraud, they transferred to themselves and Boodram Travel and Ship Ahoy Cruises Ltd, $1.3 million from potential cruise-ship customers. Also, through Bassarath, interview notes were tendered which allegedly represent interviews conducted with Boodram upon her arrest.

WPC Florence Bernard was also called to testify with respect to dates on her witness statement. The witness statement of Krishna Ramkissoon was also tendered.

Attorney Jeevan Rampersad told Antoine that he would cross-examine Bassarath on May 14. The magistrate will then hear legal submissions from the attorney, including attorney Jagdeo Singh, instructed by attorney Kavita Sookoo for Arjoonsingh.