More charges are expected to be brought against a mother-daughter duo who were slapped with six and 98 counts respectively on charges of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception and falsifying accounts.
The defendants, Morenike Cottle, a 35-year-old votes clerk, and her mother Lisby Cottle, a 56-year-old unemployed woman, both of Vermont, appeared before Chief Magistrate Colin John at the Serious Offences Court in Kingstown on Monday and pleaded not guilty.
Morenike Cottle was charged with 43 counts of dishonestly and with a view to gain for several individuals, falsifying a record required for an accounting purpose, namely SMARTSTREAM, by making an entry therein which was false or deceptive in a material particular, in that it purported to show they were entitled to be paid sums ranging between EC$300 and EC$800 by the Treasury Department.
She also faces 55 counts of dishonestly obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception for several individuals, involving various sums ranging between EC$300 and EC$800, by falsely purporting that they were entitled to receive the funds from the Treasury Department.
Her mother, Lisby Cottle, was charged with six related deception counts concerning transactions of EC$450 each, alleged to have occurred in Kingstown between March and July 2026.
While Morenike Cottle is alleged to have illegally obtained the money for others, Lisby Cottle is alleged to have obtained the money for herself.
Among the individuals named as beneficiaries of the alleged scheme committed by Morenike COttle are Nichanna Tamika Lewis, Sean Ronald Gilbert, Kenya Petra Ann Browne, Michael Carwess Smart, Perlina Blugh, Luvinia Christopher, Marilyn St. Eka Chance-Shallow, John Rudolph Finch, and Khadilia Kengie Antonette Baptiste.
Lawyer Grant Connell, who is representing the women, told the court that he understands that these charges are just “volume one” of counts that are expected to be laid against them.
When he enquired about the amount, lead investigator Detective Inspector Biorn Duncan informed him that over 20 additional charges would be brought in the case.
Connell asked that the matter be adjourned to Monday and requested bail and surety for his clients, adding that they have sufficient ties to the jurisdiction.
Prosecutor Renwick Cato did not object to the women’s bail. However, he asked that reporting conditions be imposed and that they surrender all travel documents.
John granted each woman composite bail of EC$5,000 with one surety. They were also ordered to report to the Vermont Police Station and to surrender all of their travel documents to the court.
Their matters have been adjourned to Monday.