The two officials from the Washington University of Barbados (WUB) accused of defrauding Asha “Mrs Ram” Mirchandani with four bounced cheques were granted $200 000 bail each yesterday.
Both men were ordered to report to District “C” Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They were also made to surrender their travel documents when they reappeared before Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch in the St Matthias Magistrates’ Court.
Deoraj Jaimangal Dalchand, 33, a director of WUB, of No 3 Jacaranda Circle, Apple Drive, Union Development, and chief executive officer of WUB, Gopi Venkata Rao, 42, of No 11 Falcon Crest, Tuscany, Oldbury, both in St Philip, are facing three counts of fraud in relation to Casa Grande Inc., which housed the now defunct WUB and is owned by Mirchandani, by disbursing $210 000 in three dishonoured cheques between April 1, 2017 and last September 1 in the District “C” jurisdiction.
They also face charges of disbursing $30 000 to Furniture Ltd, also owned by Mirchandani, sometime between last December 28 and September 30 in the District “A” jurisdiction.
Dalchand was represented by attorney Ajamu Boardi, while Rao was represented by Queen’s Counsel Roger Forde.
Both accused return to court on January 24.
Meanwhile, attorneys for Mirchandani – Michael Lashley QC, and Dayna Taylor-Lavine – told the DAILY NATION they would soon be bringing a civil claim against the two officials for the outstanding $3 million owed to their client – including for use of the Casa Grande facility which housed WUB. They added they were in the process of filing the necessary papers. (RA)
