Since her arrest last month, MP for Port-of-Spain South Marlene McDonald appeared in Court for the first time today to answer the charges of conspiracy to defraud the Government, money laundering and misbehaviour in public office by procuring funds for the Calabar Foundation.
McDonald appeared alongside her common-law-husband Michael Carew, former chairman of the National Self-Help Commission Edgar Zephyrine and contractors Wayne Anthony and Victor McEachrane. She was charged along with the four other accused last month, but never made it to Court since she was admitted to the St. Clair Medical Center for health related issues while she awaited her TT 2million dollar bail to be posted.
Today at the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court, McDonald’s attorney Pamela Elder SC asked that the matter be adjourned in order to permit the State to submit statements from their witnesses. George Busby, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, said there were approximately 22 witnesses who were willing to testify against against the five. Busby, who appeared on behalf of the State, said it would take at least three months for their statements to be submitted and filed. The matter was adjourned to November 4.
McDonald was not called to enter a plea as the charges against her are laid indictably.
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