Woman on HDC fraud charges

The exercise was coordinated by Head of the Fraud Squad Senior Supt Totaram Dhookie. Mahabal was escorted in handcuffs before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John who read the charges to her, that between June and August, she stole the monies from five persons. The first charge alleged that she stole $29,000 from Mark Borneo, and the second and the third, alleged that she stole $32,400 and $24,000 from Gain Ann Pilla and Geeta Balliram.

The fourth and fifth charges alleged that she stole $35,800 and $32,000 from Gura Ram and Sita Jagdeo. The allegation arising out of the charges alleges that she tricked victims to give her money took the money with the promise that she could get them HDC homes. The charges were laid indictably and Mahabal was not called upon to plead, on the basis that the prosecution did not give the court an option how they would proceed - whether indictably or summary.

Attorney Deedra-Lee Murray pleaded for bail to be granted to Mahabal, but Forde-John said the cases had to be transfered to the Rio Claro district. The magistrate remanded Mahabal into custody to appear in the Rio Claro Magistrates’ court today. Bail would be determined by the presiding magistrate there, as well as whether the prosecution would pursue the charges indictably or summarily.

Police Constable David Cummings laid the charges.