Businesswoman Facing Fraud Charges Escapes from Trinidad Prison

A second policeperson was reportedly taken into custody on Nov. 29 in connection with the escape from prison of Indian origin travel agent Vicky Nirupa Boodram at Arouca in Trinidad and Tobago. The 35-year-old businesswoman escaped on Nov. 27 when two police personnel presented documents for her release to prison officers.

Boodram is accused on 175 fraud-related charges. She had been in remand since March 2016 and was denied bail. An investigation into her escape is going on, Stephen Williams, the Commissioner of Police of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), said.

She was jailed at Women’s Prison, Golden Grove Arouca, when two policepersons, a male and a female, came to the prison around 5:15 pm on Nov. 27, saying that they have to take her to a “night court” that doesn’t exist. A nationwide search has been launched for her. Before the two cops came to collect her, a phone call to the prison had said that Boodram has received bail on all charges.

The policeman dropped his female colleague at the Tunapuna Police Station and left with Boodram. The policewoman was questioned by the Professional Standards Bureau.

ACP Mc Donald Jacob, who has responsibility over the Northern Division, said that Boodram’s escape was well-planned and it is “unfortunate”, according Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Another prisoner fled within 24 hours of Boodram’s escape.

Boodram is accused for 127 counts of demanding property by virtue of a forged instrument, 25 counts of larceny, 10 counts of uttering a forged document, five counts of forgery of a bill of exchange valuable security with intent to defraud, three counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretences, two counts of money laundering, one count of uttering false valuable security, one count of obtaining credit by fraud, and one count of causing the delivery of property by virtue of a forged instrument. The chain of events surrounding the allegations against her began in 2012.

Vicky Boodram is turning out to be our version of Frank Abagnale (of “Catch Me if You Can” fame ) pic.twitter.com/8fWEmoNzRE

— Kejan Haynes (@KejanHaynes) November 28, 2017

Boodram, the only child of Ramjass and Indra Boodram, started her career as a radio presenter, making a mark in the East Indian Radio market. She holds an MBA from the Heriott Watt University London. She was the president and founder of Boodram’s Travel & Tours and Ship Ahoy Cruises and was questioned in 2011 over money owed to passengers regarding two cruise ships that were cancelled.

The cruise line, Carnival Corporation, also filed a lawsuit at the Florida Southern District Court, claiming ‘‘Trademark Infringement’’ against Boodram, according to Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.