The accused, charged with fraud over $5,000, sought a conditional stay of proceedings unless the Attorney General provided publicly funded counsel pursuant to a Rowbotham order.
Legal Aid had denied coverage and characterized the accused’s financial disclosure as incomplete and not credible.
The court considered whether counsel was necessary for a fair trial and whether the accused was indigent.
The judge found the case was not beyond the accused’s abilities and that he was familiar with the underlying transactions, could use an interpreter, and had previously managed a significant business enterprise.
The court also found the accused was not forthright about ownership and proceeds from the sale of a home and therefore failed to establish indigence.
The request for a Rowbotham order was dismissed.
