David and Antoinette Bolden claimed they were “justified” in withdrawing tens of thousands of dollars from a company they part-owned, according to a business partner who confronted them over the alleged theft.John Wright, one of two Canadian partners in the Bermuda-based Emerald Capital International [ECI], told the Boldens' Supreme Court trial today that the transactions were not authorised.Prosecutors say the couple stole more than $360,000 from ECI in late 2008 and early 2009 to support their other failing companies, pay debts, and live beyond their means.The pair stand accused of theft, money laundering and filing misleading information to the Bermuda Monetary Authority. They deny the allegations.Mr Wright explained that he and another Canadian partner, Jason Bagg, went into business with the Boldens so ECI could invest in mining ventures in Canada through a mutual fund.When the economic crisis prevented that from getting off the ground, the company began exploring wireless technology ventures instead.Mr Wright told the trial yesterday that Mrs Bolden, the chief financial officer of ECI, did not provide the Canada partners with financial statements as requested.From around October or November 2008, Mr Wright and Mr Bagg found they could no longer access the company bank accounts online.When they finally obtained bank statements in late January 2009, they discovered Mrs Bolden had moved more than $300,000 out of the ECI accounts. According to Mr Wright, this was done without permission or discussion.This morning, he told the jury he called the Boldens at their Hamilton Parish home in early February 2009 to discuss the withdrawals from the company accounts. Mr Bolden, 48, declined to talk about it.“He seemed to think the withdrawals were justified in his mind and he had nothing more to say,” he told the court.Mrs Bolden told him withdrawals were made to pay Mr Bolden a salary in relation to the wireless technology venture he'd been exploring.According to Mr Wright, Mr Bolden was “not justified” in doing so.Mr Wright is now facing cross-examination from defence lawyer Saul Froomkin QC, who is disputing claims the banking transactions were unauthorised.