A Westmoorings woman is charged with fraud and larceny.
Khadijah Ali, 59, was granted bail when she appeared before a Justice of the Peace (JP) on Friday charged with two counts of fraudulent conversion and one count of larceny, police reported on Monday.
She was charged with fraudulent conversion amounting to $284,300 and larceny in the sums of TT$80,000 and US$2,500 when she appeared before the JP.
Ali was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 to cover all three charges and the matter postponed to April 5, where she would appear virtually before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate.
Police stated that during the period May 9, 2019 and December 12 2019, Ali was allegedly paid sums totalling $284,300 from two victims, who were made to believe that she could convert the money into US currency.
Efforts by the victims to obtain the US currency or refunds proved futile.
It is being alleged that Ali reportedly used the funds for her own use and benefit.
Also, between the period August 17, 2018 and August 22, 2018, a victim allegedly paid Ali a total of $80,000 after she led him to believe that she was employed in the Judiciary and was in a position to obtain bail on behalf of his daughter.
When Ali failed to deliver on her promise, the victim discovered she was never in a position to access bail. Efforts to obtain a refund of the money from Ali were futile.
The three victims had made individual reports to the Fraud Squad and an investigation was launched.
On March 3, an exercise was conducted in the Port-of-Spain Division, under the supervision of Snr Supt Arlet Groome, during which the accused was arrested. Ali was charged with the three offences by acting Cpl Lazarus on Friday.
