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A woman charged by the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) with fraud and money laundering in connection with a public assistance cheque scam was granted bail on Monday.

The accused appeared before Master Indira Chinebas of the High Court, where bail was set at $75,000. As a condition of her release, she must report weekly to the Santa Cruz Police Station between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The next court hearing has been scheduled for March 3, 2026.

Investigators allege that in December 2022, the woman presented a fraudulent cheque issued by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services (MSDFS) for $2,300 at a Port of Spain supermarket in exchange for goods. The cheque was later discovered to be counterfeit upon deposit at the Central Bank.