FNM Minister Elma Campbell-Chase case swept under carpet

Former Free National Movement (FNM) Cabinet Minister Elma Campbell-Chase remains at the centre of a serious fraud case that, despite its high profile and the gravity of the allegations, has yet to be heard in court—more than five years after the events in question allegedly took place.

In 2020, Campbell-Chase, who previously served as The Bahamas’ Ambassador to China and a senator under the FNM government, was charged alongside her son, attorney Che Chase, with defrauding the Ministry of Tourism of $1.2 million.

The pair appeared before then-Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, where they pleaded not guilty to charges of fraudulently obtaining funds from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) using a Ministry of Tourism cheque.

According to prosecutors, on September 6, 2019, Chase cashed a forged $1.2 million cheque payable to “Campbell Chase Law,” a firm connected to his mother.

He was further charged with possession of a forged document and uttering a forged document—both serious offenses under Bahamian law.

Despite the magnitude of the case, progress has stalled repeatedly. After initial proceedings in 2020, the matter was slated for trial from April 4 through 7, 2023, before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

That trial date, however, came and went without any resolution, and without any clear explanation from the courts or prosecutors. Since then, the case has quietly languished in legal limbo.

For many observers, the stalled proceedings raise troubling questions. Why has a case involving such significant allegations against a former senior government official and her son, both of whom were trusted in positions of public and legal responsibility, failed to reach trial in half a decade? Is justice being delayed to the point of being denied?

Critics argue that the lack of movement undermines confidence in the judicial system and gives the impression of selective accountability.

In contrast, lower-profile cases involving far lesser sums often move through the courts at a faster pace, prompting public concern over fairness and consistency.

Elma Campbell-Chase’s political and diplomatic career had once made her a respected figure within the FNM and the country. Now, the protracted silence surrounding her criminal case stands in stark contrast to the public transparency expected of individuals who once held public trust.

With no new trial date announced and little public information about the case’s next steps, the question remains: will this case ever be resolved in a court of law—or is it destined to fade quietly into obscurity?