Belair resident charged with laundering over $400,000

Belair resident, Michael Charles was granted bail in the sum of EC$200,000, when he appeared at the Serious Offences Court yesterday, charged with eight counts of money laundering

The 41-year-old pleaded not guilty to all the charges, which in total amounted to EC$342,138.69 and Barbadian currency, $65,000.{{more}}

The charges are that between January 13, 2009 and January 24, 2013, at Calliaqua, Charles did transfer and bring into St Vincent and the Grenadines via a money remittance agent, EC$125,771.35, which represents the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Charles is also charged that between January 29, 2009 and January 17, 2013, at Kingstown, he did transfer and bring into St Vincent and Grenadines via a money remittance agent, EC$ 53,193.63.

Between September 1, 2012 and September 30, 2012, at Belair, Charles is also accused of acquiring Bds$20,000, knowing or suspecting that, in whole or in part, it directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct. He is further charged that between the same dates, at Kingstown, he acquired Bds$20,000, knowing or suspecting, that in whole or in part, it directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Charles is charged that between November 1, 2012 and November 30, 2012, at Belair, he acquired Bds$45,000, knowing or suspecting or having reasonable grounds to suspect that in whole or in part, it directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct.

He is also charged that between November 1, 2012 and November 30, 2012, at the E.T. Joshua Airport, he did bring in EC$45,000, which represents the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Charles also pleaded not guilty to the charge that between December 24, 2012 and December 27, 2012, at Calliaqua, he acquired EC$26,042.64, knowing or suspecting that in whole or in part, it directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct.

He also pleaded not guilty to a charge that between December 12, 2012 and February 5, 2013, at Kingstown, he acquired EC$137,131.07 knowing or suspecting, that in whole or in part, it directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Charles was ordered to report on Mondays to the Calliaqua Police Station.

The matter was adjourned to April 30, 2015 for trial.

Attorney Grant Connell is representing Charles in the matter.

Inspector Clauston Francis of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) leads the investigation.(KW)