State closes case against Vicky

THE State yesterday closed its case against fraud accused Vicky Boodram and her ex-husband Ravi Arjoonsingh.

A decision will be given on June 25 by senior magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine on a no-case submission made on Arjoonsingh’s behalf by attorney Jagdeo Singh.

No such submission was made by the attorney representing Boodram, 39, who operated Boodram’s Travel & Ship Ahoy Cruise Ltd of La Romaine.

Based on cruise-ship ticket sales between 2010 and 2011, Boodram and Arjoonsingh are facing 107 charges that they transferred to themselves and the travel agency, $1.3 million which represented customers’ deposits for an international cruise which never sailed.

The State, represented by special prosecutor Elaine Green, filed 50 witness statements which were tendered into evidence at the Preliminary Inquiry presided over by Antoine. Additionally, 43 receipts were also tendered into evidence.

Yesterday, Green called Ag Sgt Vinelle Basarath of the Fraud Squad for cross-examination by Singh, instructed by Kavita Boodoo. Singh questioned Basarath about Arjoonsingh’s connection, if any, with cruise-ship media advertisements.

Attorney Jeevan Rampersad reserved cross-examination and Green then announced that her case against the two accused was closed.

Singh told Antoine that he will make his no-case submission in writing and the magistrate gave him until June 4. Green is to reply by June 14. Antoine adjourned hearing to June 25.

Depending on the magistrate’s ruling on the no-case submission, Arjoonsingh can either walk free, be called upon to testify or call witnesses for continuation of the inquiry. Arjoonsingh is on $1 million bail while Boodram remains in custody.