Defence to seek bail for medical doctor charged in fraud case

Defence attorney Peter Champagnie, KC, has signalled that he will be seeking bail for Dr Chloe Douett at the next court hearing in a multi-million dollar fraud case that has impacted several financial institutions.

Champagnie made the disclosure during a hearing before the St Catherine Parish Court on Friday.

The matter will be mentioned again on March 20.

During Friday’s hearing, Deputy Director of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, Bobbet Smalling, said the investigation has widened, with almost 200 statements collected so far in connection with the matter.

The court was also informed that another person is expected to be added to the case alongside Douett.

A third individual is on pre-charge bail.

Prosecutors further requested that visits to Douett be restricted to her attorney, citing concerns that individuals were attempting to communicate with her in a manner that could interfere with the investigation.

It was also revealed that the Office Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will also be assessing the file to determine if there are any additional charges to be recommended and whether the matter should continue in the parosh court or transferred to the circuit court based on the amount of money reportedly involved.

Champagnie told the court that his client will abide by the court’s guidance, while the defence also presented affidavits from Douett’s parents identifying her as their daughter as there were issues that raised questions about her true identity. It was alleged that she Douett was in possession of various documents under different names.

Prosecutors allege that Douett went to the Fairview branch of National Commercial Bank in St James and applied for a $70 million loan, presenting identification documents in the name of Peta-Gay Coke.

Checks carried out by the bank reportedly revealed that the documents were fraudulent, and investigators said several documents were retrieved from Douett.

The court also heard that Dwayne Pitter, who was allegedly lurking in the vicinity, initially eluded police.

Investigators later intercepted him in Ferry, St Catherine as he exited the toll road, where several incriminating documents were reportedly found in the vehicle.

He has since been taken into custody.

Douett and Pitter were two of three persons that MOCA said it charged in January for allegedly defrauding several financial institutions of more than $600 million. The third persons is Ivana Campbell, 29.

- Rasbert Turner

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