Women denies over $2M theft

(CNS): A 52-year-old woman denied stealing more than $2 million from a local resident when she appeared in court Friday. Michelle Bouchard faces 12 counts of theft and other related charges from James Handford between June 2010 and September 2012 but she pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. A Canadian national, Bouchard is understood to have been in a relationship with the victim of the theft. According to the charges, Bouchard took the money from various accounts held by Handford without his authority and transferred them to her own accounts or credit cards. She is also charged with buying a four carat diamond ring worth over $200,000 with his credit card.

Bouchard will face trial in August of this year in what is believed to be one of the largest ever allegations of theft against one individual. Although a Canadian national here on a student visa, Bouchard, whose assets have been frozen and passport seized, was bailed to appear for her trial date and ordered not to have contact with the complainant.