A woman from the United States appeared in a Co Down court on Tuesday after she was extradited from the US to face charges of theft and fraud of more than £100,000 from more than a decade ago.
As Marianne Smyth stood in the dock of Newtownards Magistrates Court, a detective constable confirmed that he had executed and endorsed eight warrants for the arrest of the 54-year-old.
Confirming that he was not lodging any application for bail on Tuesday, defence solicitor Paul Dougan told District Judge Mark Hamill that Ms Smyth faces allegations of theft and fraud by abuse of position amounting to around £130,000.
According to a police statement ahead of Ms Smyth’s court appearance, the offences are alleged to have been committed in Northern Ireland between March 2008 and October 2010.
Following her arrest in February, she was subjected to extradition proceedings in an American court before a judge ordered her return to the north.
Ms Smyth was arrested at a rental property in Maine in February and Mr Dougan confirmed she has been in custody since then.
The indictment against her contains a total of eight charges including four of theft and four of committing fraud by abusing the position of trust, alleged to have been committed against a total of six people, two individuals and two couples.
The particulars of the fraud offences allege that whilst occupying a position in which she was expected to safeguard, or not to act against, the financial interests of the complainants.
Ms Smyth “dishonestly abused that position in that you failed to invest money as promised, with the intention, by means of the abuse of that position to make a gain for yourself or another or to cause loss.”
Mr Dougan told the court he had already received and considered the legal papers for a Preliminary Enquiry which will see the case elevated to the Crown Court in just over two weeks time.
The accused, with an address on the Spa Road in Ballynahinch according to court papers, was remanded into custody, with Judge Hamill adjourning the case to Downpatrick Magistrates Court for PE on 18 July.
In a statement prior to the court hearing, a PSNI officer attached to the International Policing Unit said: “This demonstrates our continued and effective working with our international partners to track down wanted persons.
“In this case we worked closely with the United States Department of Justice and US Law Enforcement to locate, arrest and extradite this suspect.
“We appreciate the continued support of partners in the USA in assisting the Police Service of Northern Ireland in locating offenders.
“Our message is clear to anyone who has left Northern Ireland to avoid arrest or the consequences of their actions.”
“We will relentlessly pursue those that are trying to delay or deny justice to victims of crime.”
