Deeds Registrar continues to profess her innocence

Charged with fraud

– granted $250,000 bail

Registrar of the Deeds Registry, Azeena Baksh, was on Tuesday morning arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a fraud charge.
The 33-year-old pregnant woman with her Attorney, Nigel Hughes, appeared before Magistrate McLennan and pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that while being employed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in the capacity of Acting Registrar appointee, between May 1, 2014 and January 31, 2017, she procured valuable securities to the sum of $4,534,486 to be delivered to her Bank of Nova Scotia account, for her own use and benefit, under the false pretence that she was an employee at the Deeds Registry.

Hughes, in his bail application, requested that his client be released on her own recognisance, adding that the woman was ordered to take bed rest as she is in the final trimester of her pregnancy. According to the lawyer, Baksh poses no risk of flight as she at all times cooperated with officials during the course of the investigation, reportedly being released on self-bail by Police.
The court also heard that Baksh “strongly professes her innocence”, while her lawyer requested bail in these special circumstances.
Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore did not object to bail, provided that it is granted in a substantial sum along with the conditions that all travel documents be lodged with relevant authorities and to have the accused report to Mr Reed at the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Friday at 09:00h.
Hughes, in response to the proposed conditions, contended that it is unreasonable to have his client report to the same officer who released Baksh on her own recognisance in the first place. The lawyer argued that the officials have absolute confidence in the accused’s court attendance pending the outcome of the trial, as she had publicly expressed her desire to clear her name. According to media reports, the Legal Affairs Ministry, which is headed under Attorney General Basil Williams, outlined that Baksh “allegedly unlawfully paid herself a higher salary than was approved by the JSC.”
It is alleged that upon her appointment as the Deeds Registrar in 2012, Baksh received a salary of $326,171, increasing same to $400,000 in 2014 when the Deeds Registry was merged with the Commercial Registry, without the approval of the JSC.
Moreover, being the sole authority to sign off on such documents, Baksh appropriated gratuity to herself among several staff during the period of May 2014 to November 2016.
Baksh was released on $250,000 bail pending the outcome of the trial.
She returns to court on June 6.