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A woman charged by the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB), with Fraud and Money Laundering in a Public Assistance Cheque scam, has been granted bail in the sum of $75,000 by a Master of the High Court.

In a police media release Tuesday, it was reported that Elizabeth Christine Lochan was charged with the offences, when she appeared in court before Master Indira Chinebas, on Monday. As a condition of her bail, the accused must report to the Santa Cruz Police Station once a week between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The next hearing has been scheduled for March 3, 2026.

Following a report in March 2024, from the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services, an investigation was launched which revealed that in December 2022, a woman allegedly presented a fraudulent MSDFS Public Assistance Cheque for the sum of $2,300 for encashment at a Port of Spain supermarket in exchange for goods. The cheque was later discovered to be fraudulent upon subsequent deposit at the Central Bank.