Ann Noel, the fifteenth person charged in the Fidelity Polar beer scam was yesterday placed on bail in the sum of $95,000 when she appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Noel, a former employee of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), was not required to plead to the indictable charge of conspiracy to commit a felony when it was read to her by the Acting Chief Magistrate.
It is alleged that from July 19 to September 18, 2007 Noel conspired with Rajendra Rajcoomar and a person or persons unknown to be knowingly concerned in fraudulent duties at customs in relation to the importation of Polar beer.
Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes who represented Noel made an application that reasonable bail be granted on the grounds that his client has had no previous convictions, poses no risk of flight and has been cooperating with the police in their investigations.
As the court was told when the other accused made their initial appearance on April 28, Noel had been absent because she was not aware of the date on which she was required to attend.
The 14 defendants who had made their April 28 appearance before the Acting Chief Magistrate were all not required to plead to the indictable charges which included fraud, forgery and conspiracy to commit a felony.
A total of 72 charges had been read to the fourteen employees and former employees of the GRA attached to Customs and were both individual and joint charges.
Meanwhile, the 14 defendants yesterday made yet another appearance before the Acting Chief Magistrate and were ordered to return to court on July 28.
Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, the Prosecutor in the case, requested that the matter be adjourned until July 28 as he needs some more time to prepare and place his files in order.
Hughes, one of the many lawyers representing the accused persons, told the court that an adjournment would only seek to hinder the clients from travelling. De Santos argued, however, that since the accused persons are on bail, they are to be present in the jurisdiction for the trial.