A woman accused of stealing $37 000 and money laundering, was granted $15 000 bail today.
Louann Merlaine Gibson, 47, of Deal Garden, Maxwell, Christ Church, was not required to plead to stealing $37 086.63 belonging to The Bridgetown Cruise Terminals Inc., between January 8 and June 2, 2016. She was further accused of engaging in money laundering where she allegedly disposed of the same amount, the proceeds of crime between the same dates.
Prosecutor Station Sergeant Carrison Henry did not object to bail. However, he asked that Gibson be made to surrender her travel documents to the Criminal Court No. 1 and report to the nearest police station twice a week.
Attorney Rasheed Belgrave, who represented the unemployed woman along with Frederick Alleyne, told the court “any two days will be good for now”.
“She was retrenched last November, but is actively looking for work so we may have to come back for a variation,” he explained.
When he told Acting Magistrate Anika Jackson they would give an undertaking that Gibson’s passport could be at the court tomorrow, she asked why not today.
“I am the wrong one to try a fast one on. I want it here today,” the magistrate stated.
Gibson was granted bail with a surety, and ordered to report to the Oistins Police Station every Monday and Wednesday. The matter was also stood down for an hour before her passport was produced and she was allowed to leave.
She returns to court on May 15. (RA)
