Boodram, ex-husband to know fate on July 31

THE State has more or less made out a case against former cruise-ship operator Vicky Boodram, a senior magistrate said this morning in the San Fernando Magistrates' Court.

Senior magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine is conducting a preliminary inquiry into 109 fraud charges arising out of failed cruise-ship packages offered by Boodram's Travel and Ship Ahoy Cruise Ltd in 2011.

Boodram's ex-husband Ravi Arjoonsingh reappeared alongside her on the same charges. Arjoonsingh is on $2 million bail while Boodram is in custody.

Antoine told special prosecutor Elaine Green she had read most of the very voluminous legal submissions of Jagdeo Singh on Arjoonsingh’s behalf. Singh is contending that there is no evidence to connect Arjoonsingh directly with appropriating cruise-ship customers’ money.

Elaine said that by tomorrow she will serve on Singh a reply to the his submissions.

The magistrate ordered that Singh reply by July 24 and fixed July 31 for the decision on whether to commit one or both of them to stand trial.

Attorney Michael Rooplal held brief for Singh.

Antoine said, “The State has more or less made out a case against the first accused.”

If Antoine commits Boodram and Arjoonsingh, they will be tried in the High Court before a judge and jury.

The magistrate can set new bail for Arjoonsingh, but Boodram will have to apply to a judge in chambers.