Extortion Conviction Upheld for Woman who Blackmailed Bank Manager

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Court of Appeal on Thursday refused to overturn the extortion and attempted extortion convictions of a woman who blackmailed a bank manager.

In a 3 to 0 decision, the Court rejected arguments by Jamia Newbold’s lawyer, Geoffrey Farquharson, that the evidence didn’t support the convictions.

This means that Newbold will have to serve out her two-year long sentence.

In 2018, Newbold applied for a student loan from First Caribbean International Bank to attend Georgetown University but failed to meet the requirements.

The bank’s loan manager, Cleopatra Deal, sympathized with Newbold and, against bank policy, used her personal funds to cover Newbold’s expenses, transferring $45,996 between August and December 2018.

When the loan was conditionally approved in January 2019, Newbold refused to sign the loan contract.

In May 2019, she demanded $28,000 from Deal, threatening to report her if the money wasn’t paid, and Deal complied out of fear. In August 2019, Newbold demanded a further $33,500, prompting Deal to report the matter to the police.

She was arrested and charged with extortion and attempted extortion.