Welch to stand trial for Miss Universe fraud

A Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday dismissed a no-case submission put forward by attorney Gillian Lucky, representing accused Gina Welch, in the Miss Universe Fraud matter. After going over the evidence presented, including the testimonies of the six witnesses called by State attorney Marissa Gomez, Magistrate Ejenny Espinet ruled that a prima facie case had been made out against the accused. As a result, Welch was committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the Assizes. Welch, of Gittens Road, Glencoe, is charged with defrauding the Pageant Company of $24,584.70 when Trinidad and Tobago hosted the Miss Universe Pageant in 1999.

Welch was the marketing manager of the company when the alleged offence took place. The charge was laid by Supt Glenroy Woodley of the Fraud Squad. After the ruling, Lucky requested that her client be granted bail because she had an excellent record of coming to court. Welsh was then granted bail in the sum of $75,000. She will reappear in court to answer similar charges arising out of the Miss Universe project on November 26.