Cruise Tours operator arrested for fraud

San Fernando: Cruise Tour operator and businesswoman Vicky Boodram has been arrested by police, months after hundreds of holiday-makers accused Boodram of fraud.

Police reports indicate that Boodram, who operates Boodram's Travel Tours and Ship Ahoy Cruises, was held by officers just after 8 o'clock this morning at De Gannes Trace, Siparia.

Boodram was taken to the Fraud Squad offices in Port-of-Spain where she is being questioned in connection with multiple counts of fraud, in relation to the cancellation of a cruise and the failure to refund clients their money.

In January and February of this year, hundreds of customers contacted the media and the police, demanding refunds of thousands of dollars of cash paid for a cruise.

Carnival Cruises, the world's largest cruise vacation company, had initiated a lawsuit against Boodram for an alleged breach of contract and fraud of over $40 million.

Officers of the Fraud Squad are awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on how to proceed.