By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE fraud trial of former Cabinet minister Elma Campbell has been adjourned once again to ensure the magistrate presiding over the case enforces the mandatory COVID-19 safety protocols in his court.
Last year, the former Free National Movement senator, along with her son, Che Chase, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, charged with a number of fraud related offences after they were accused of defrauding the Ministry of Tourism of $1.2m.
The mother and son were charged with Damalus Curry who was also arraigned on one count of money laundering.
Prosecutors said Campbell and Chase, with the intent to defraud, obtained $1.2m from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) with a forged cheque in the name of the Ministry of Tourism, making the amount payable to Campbell-Chase Law.
They further alleged the two transferred $512,000 from their law account to a private RBC Finco account in both of their names before transferring another $24,000 from the same joint account to an RBC account belonging to another woman, among other transactions.
These include transferring $17,500 to an RBC account in the name of Michelle Thompson; converting $27,000 to a RBC bank draft in the name of Adrianna Fox; and converting $15,000 to a RBC bank draft in the name of the Public Treasury.
Curry, a businessman, was charged with acquiring $465,000 knowing that it represented the proceeds of crime.
During their initial court appearance, all of the accused denied the allegations brought against them and the case was adjourned to March 2020 for a status hearing.
However, this action was delayed due to the restrictions imposed on the Magistrate’s Court at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the trio returned to court in May, their trial was then scheduled for September 6-10.
However, when they appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday, he noted the matter included a number of counsel and witnesses that the court’s current size could not accommodate without violating the social distancing protocols.
Because of this, he said it would be unwise to proceed with the matter given the current number of COVID-19 cases the country is recording daily.
As a result, he once again adjourned the matter to December 2 for a mention hearing. He said on that date, the court would make a determination on when it would be safe to begin the trial.
Attorneys Elliot Lockhart, QC, and Dion Smith appear for Campbell, while Wayne Munroe, QC, and Bjorn Ferguson appear for Curry in the matter.
Chase is represented by attorneys Roberto Reckley and Mr Smith, while Terry Archer represents the Department of Public Prosecutions.
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