By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Court Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A HAITIAN woman was arraigned yesterday accused of using a fraudulent spousal permit to try to obtain an NIB smart card.
Jasmide Vital, 42, was one of three people charged in Magistrate’s Court yesterday with fraud offences.
Bahamians Lynden Ferguson, 51, and Peter Ferguson,65, also appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville on charges for this fraudulent scheme.
Vital and Lynden Ferguson initially faced charges of entering into a fraudulent marriage and all three accused faced a conspiracy to commit marriage fraud charge; however these charges were dropped. After consultation between the prosecution, the magistrate and the defendants’ lawyers, the court moved to have the three defendants acquitted and discharged on those respective counts.
Vital also faced charges of fraud by false pretences and attempted fraud by false pretences. Meanwhile both men faced a shared charge of abetment to commit fraud by false pretences.
On March 1, Vital is said to have fraudulently obtained a residence spouse permit from the Bahamas Department of Immigration with the aid and abetment of both male accused.
Then on August 16, Vital tried to use this same permit to obtain an NIB smart card knowing it was not genuine.
In court, all three defendants pleaded not guilty to all the respective charges against them.
Both men were granted bail at $6,000 with one or two sureties each, but with no sign in conditions imposed.
However, Vital was denied bail at this time because she has no status in the country.
Her bail hearing was deferred until August 24 while the court awaits an update from the Bahamas Department of Immigration in relation to her case.
All three defendants are to return to court for mention on October 19.
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