Belair resident Michael Charles has been granted EC$200,000 bail with two sureties and is slated to return to court on April 30 in relation to eight Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering charges amounting to EC$342,138.69 and 65,000 Barbadian dollars.
Charles, 41, pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias at the Serious Offences Court on Thursday.
He was also ordered to report to the Calliaqua Police Station between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Mondays.
Charles is charged that between Jan. 13, 2009 and Jan. 24, 2013 at Calliaqua he did transfer and bring into St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) via a money remittance agency, property, to wit, EC$135,731.35, which in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represents the proceeds of criminal conduct, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Prevention Act.
He is also charged that Jan. 29, 2009 and Jan. 17, 2013, at Kingstown, he did transfer and bring into SVG via a money remittance agency, property, to EC$53,193.63, which, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represents the proceeds of criminal conduct, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Prevention Act.
The prosecution is further alleging that between Sept. 1, 2012 and Sept. 30, 2012 at Belair, knowing, suspecting, or having reasonable grounds to suspect that the sum of BDS$20,000, which in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represents the proceeds of criminal conduct, did acquire same, contrary the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Prevention Act.
That between Sept. 1, 2012 and Sept. 30, 2012 at Kingstown, did bring into SVG, property, to wit, BDS$20,000, which, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represents the proceeds of criminal conduct, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Prevention Act.
Another charge is that between Nov. 1, 2012 and Nov. 30, 2012 at Belair, Charles knowing, suspecting or having reasonable grounds to suspect that the sum of BDS$45,000, which in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represents the proceeds of criminal conduct, did acquire same, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Prevention Act.
He also pleaded not guilty to the charge that between Nov. 1, 2012 and Nov. 30, 2012 at E.T. Joshua Airport did bring into SVG, property, to wit, BDS$45,000, which, in whole or in party, directly or indirectly, represents the proceeds of criminal conduct, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Prevention Act.
He is charged that between Dec. 24, 2012 and Dec. 27, 2012 at Calliaqua, knowing, suspecting or having reasonable grounds to suspect that the sum of $26,042.64, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represents the proceeds of criminal conduct, did acquire same, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Prevention Act.
That between Dec. 27, 2012 and Feb. 5, 2013 at Kingstown, knowing, suspecting, or having reasonable grounds to suspect that the sum of $137,131.07, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represents the proceeds of criminal conduct, did acquire same, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Prevention Act.
Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche did not object to bail but asked for a sufficiency of surety.
“The investigator, who is a very thorough man, is indicating $200,000 bail,” Delpleshe told the court, adding that the investigator — Inspector Clauston Francis of the Financial Intelligence Unit — also said that Charles is not a flight risk.
How about the ULP million US dollars in an old bag. Why was no one arrested for that?