A woman has been charged by an investigator from the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB), with fraud and money laundering in a public assistance cheque scam. A TTPS release on October 7 said the woman was granted $75,000 bail by a Master of the High Court.

Elizabeth Christine Lochan appeared before Master Indira Chinebas on October 6. As a condition of bail, the accused must report to the Santa Cruz Police Station once a week between 6 am and 6 pm. The case was adjourned to March 3.

Following a report in March, from the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services, an investigation was launched which revealed that in December 2022, a woman presented a fraudulent MSDFS Public Assistance cheque for the sum of $2,300 for encashment at a Port of Spain supermarket, in exchange for grocery items.