Opposition Elections Scrutineer, Carol Smith-Joseph, was on Wednesday arraigned at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Marissa Mittleholzer. Smith-Joseph was slapped with 14 counts of fraud.
It is alleged that between the period July 2015 and June 2018, while being a Director of the Board, she fraudulently appropriated property from the Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS).
She was not required to plead to the indictable charge. The opposition member was granted bail in the sum of $10,000 per charge, a total sum of $140,000.
She was represented by Attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes and Roysdale Forde. The cases were adjourned to January 11, 2023 for statements and June 7, 2023 for a preliminary inquiry to commence.
During the month of March 2022, a report was made to the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) by Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme Rice under the Companies Act. Cap 89:01 of fraudulent appropriation of funds of the company by Carol Joseph, who was a director at the time. As a result of that report, SOCU commenced investigations.
These amounts were allegedly used for her personal benefit.
