‘Twiggy’ on $45,000 bail

Well-known PNM activist, Christine Levia, also known as “Twiggy,” appeared yesterday before a Port-of-Spain magistrate charged with 14 counts of fraud. Levia, who was represented by attorney Robert Munroe Brown, was not called on to plead as all charges were laid indictably. Levia appeared in the City’s First Court before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet who read all 14 charges  aloud. Forty-five-year-old Levia, of Bath Street, Laventille, was charged with seven counts of issuing forged cheques at the First Citizens Bank, corner Park and Henry Streets Port-of-Spain, and seven charges for intent to defraud the same bank.

The monies said to have been received by Levia is near $7,000. The offences are said to have taken place on June 15 2004. Levia was arrested at her Laventille home Wednesday morning after intense investigations by Fraud Squad investigators. WP Cpl Charmaine Williams laid the charges. After the charges were read, Munroe Brown told the magistrate his client was most anxious to begin the preliminary inquiry, and wanted very much to dispose of the matter very quickly. The attorney noted that Levia was a first time offender and asked that the prosecution provide him with a date so that they can begin the matter forthwith. In response, the magistrate told the attorney that while Levia wanted to begin the matter in the shortest possible time, she was in no position to press the prosecution for a date, as they have not yet been instructed by the DPP’s office. Levia remains on bail of $45,000, and the matter was adjourned to November 18.