Frankie Boodram makes strong bid for bail

Businessman Frankie Boodram is making a strong bid for bail pending his appeal against a conviction and sentence of five years for receiving stolen automobile parts.

His  attorneys Vernon de Lima and Joseph Pantor, argued seven grounds of appeal before appellate judge Justice Stanley John. They will have to convince Justice John that Boodram’s appeal is most likely to succeed, before the judge could consider granting Boodram bail. To this end,  both de Lima and Pantor spent the entire day arguing seven grounds of appeal. Today , when the matter resumes at 10.30 am, Assistant DPP Devan Rampersad, will respond to those  arguments, after which the judge will give his decision.

Boodram 56, an ace racing car driver, was sentenced by Justice Paula Mae Weeks to five years  hard labour in February. He was also charged with larceny of a pick-up/van belonging to Clint Batchasingh on August 22, 2000, at the Queen’s Park Savannah. But the jury found him not guilty on that charge, but guilty by an eight to one majority on the second count of receiving. His attorney at the trial, Israel B Khan SC, had pleaded for a none custodial sentence.