[UPDATED] 'I'll have my day'

"I will be vindicated."

That was the statement made by Port of Spain South MP Marlene McDonald as she left the St Clair Medical Centre yesterday, shortly before facing a Port of Spain magistrate on charges of misconduct and misappropriation of state funds.

McDonald was seen leaving the private hospital at about 3 pm yesterday, escorted by Court and Process police who took her to face the magistrate. She was brought out of the hospital in a wheelchair and taken to a brown Honda CR-V SUV.

As reporters chased the SUV to get a glimpse of McDonald, the car stopped for her to roll down her window and address the reporters. She was sitting next to PNM operations officer Irene Hinds. Although she seemed to have lost weight and looked tired after being in hospital since Monday, she was in high spirits and told reporters she felt "excellent."

McDonald even blew a kiss to cameramen as she sat in the car.

"I will have my day in court," she told said reporters.

She was then taken to the Port of Spain Magistrates' Court, where she signed a bail bond and left.

In a subsequent interview with TV6, McDonald's attorney Pamela Elder SC said, "Miss McDonald was taken to the Magistrates Court where her bail was processed and she was returned to St Clair (Medical Centre), where at the time of speaking, she is still a patient." She did not say what McDonald's medical condition was.

Regarding McDonald's appearance in court on September 9, Elder said, "We have to wait and see what evidence the DPP will be producing to the court."

McDonald was granted $2 million bail after she was charged with attempting to defraud the government by procuring funds for a charity group, the Calabar Foundation, which was run by her partner, Michael Carew. She faces a total of seven charges which include two counts of conspiracy to defraud, four counts of misbehaviour in public office and a money-laundering charge.

Fraud Squad investigators who had been looking into McDonald's actions since 2016 determined the foundation received cheques from the Ministry of Community Development and Culture – two of which amounted to $575,000 – while McDonald was the minister, in 2010. The cheques were approved less than two weeks before the PNM lost the general election to the People's Partnership on May 24, 2010, but were not deposited until September that year.

A year after the PNM got back into power, McDonald, who was Housing Minister, was removed after questions arose over the allocation of an HDC house to her partner.

She was again sworn in as Public Utilities Minister, but was fired 48 hours later after concerns were raised over one of her guests at the swearing–in, Sea Lots businessman Cedric Burke.

She was sworn in a third time as Public Administration Minister and was deputy political leader of the PNM, but was removed from both posts shortly after her arrest last week.

A "special team" of investigators went to her home last Thursday and arrested her and Carew.

Three other people – Victor McEachrane, Edgar Zephyrine and Wayne Anthony – were also arrested on similar charges.

Up to press time, Carew and McEachrane were still in remand although they had secured bail, Anthony and Zephyrine, who also secured bail, were allowed to go home.

Newsday was told the two men who remain in remand had paperwork issues keeping them from being released.

McDonald's case was adjourned to September 9.

This story was originally published with the title "Marlene: I will be vindicated" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Port of Spain South MP Marlene McDonald told reporters today that she will have her fair day in court.

McDonald who was leaving the St Clair Medical Facility this afternoon in a brown SUV, slowed near reporters and lowered the windows to blow a kiss to cameras.

She told reporters she was confident she would be vindicated. While she appeared appeared tired after being hospitalised since Monday, she told reporters she felt excellent.

She was escorted by officers from the Court and Process Division.