A woman accused of stealing $36 000 has been granted $40 000 bail and will return to court in February next year.
Christaline Edwina Ackie, of Lot 80 Mangrove Park, St Philip went before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant. She was not required to plead to the indictable charge of stealing $36 010 an 18 cheques sometime between August 22 and October 26 this year, belonging to Nuclear Medicine Barbados Incorporated.
Sergeant Neville Reid objected to bail, saying that there was an on-going investigation relating to “a substantial sum” of money. Investigations also revealed that the accused “was making preparations to leave the country”, Reid said, since officers who went to her home found packed suitcases there, Additionally, there was information that she was in the process of selling her home.
The prosecutor said that although the Dominican national has status here, he felt that if she were granted bail there was the possibility of her fleeing the jurisdiction.
Responding, attorney-at-law Steve Gollop said that Ackie has been residing in Barbados for the past seven years. He further remarked that the accused did intend to leave “her property but not the jurisdiction.” He explained that that was because she wanted to lease her residence as a source of income, rather than sell it.
The lawyer also spoke to the absence of a travel itinerary, which he felt would show the court a real intent to abscond.
Gollop added that the Crown already has his client’s passport, which went “a long way toward controlling her movements”.
Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant granted the woman bail and ordered her to give the court her new address and report to a police station twice weekly with identification.