Financiers David and Antoinette Bolden cried, hugged and prayed after they were cleared of theft and money laundering allegations, but convicted of misleading the Bermuda Monetary Authority.Yesterday’s verdicts came at the end of a five-week trial at Supreme Court. The couple, who are husband and wife, were bailed by Chief Justice Richard Ground.However, he indicated the couple could still face prison when they are sentenced at a later date saying: “The fact that I am extending bail says nothing about the ultimate sentence.”Greeting the jury’s verdicts, Mrs Bolden’s father, Arliss Francis, told The Royal Gazette: “I thank God it’s over and thank God it came out well.”Mr and Mrs Bolden, who have spoken in the past of their strong Christian faith, clasped their hands in prayer and bowed their heads as the jury delivered the verdicts.The pair, from Hamilton Parish, then joined supporters in singing hymns outside court, but declined to speak to the media.During their trial, they were accused of stealing from exempt company Emerald Capital International, laundering the stolen funds and giving false information about their Emerald Financial Group of companies to the Bermuda Monetary Authority [BMA].The total amount alleged to have been stolen was $272,000. The Boldens founded ECI with two Canadian partners in 2007. Their business partners accused them of plundering the company accounts, and gave evidence for the prosecution during the trial.While the jury found the Boldens not guilty in respect of 18 theft and money laundering charges, they convicted them of one charge of misleading the BMA over the financial position of their Emerald Financial Group, which was licensed by the regulator.The Boldens made what the jury deemed to be false claims to the regulator between September 28 and October 28 2008, in answer to BMA inquiries about the Emerald Group’s liquidity and capitalisation.The Official Receiver was called in in summer 2009 after the Bermuda Monetary Authority took enforcement action to begin winding up the Emerald Group of Companies.Mr Bolden, 48, and Mrs Bolden, 47, gave evidence in their own defence during their trial. They stated that any money they took from the ECI accounts was owed to them for salaries and expenses relating to their work for the company. They denied lying to the regulator about the state of their finances, and refuted suggestions they were in deep financial trouble at the time.The couple have been married for 22 years and have an 18-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter. They began their Emerald group of companies in 1992 with Emerald Financial Limited.They started up Emerald Investment Management in 1998, and Direct Trade, a trading platform for the US stock exchange, in 1999.ECI was set up with two Canadian business partners in 2007. It initially looked to invest in Canadian mining ventures before branching out into wireless technology.Mrs Bolden told the court she and her husband put ten to 16 hours of work per day into their companies. The pair became well-known in Bermuda for their business ventures and for their appearances on the Money Talks television show.