… one remains on remand
Four Cubans and a Guyanese appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on separate charges of forgery and overstaying in Guyana.
The charge against Alberto Rodrigues Costas, 52, stated that between April 30 and July 29, 2016, in Georgetown, Costas failed to comply with any conditions of a permit granted to him by overstayed the time granted to him.
Costas told the court via a translator that he felt cheated since he only wanted to stay and labour. As such, a guilty plea was entered upon his behalf by the Magistrate.
Police Prosecutor Sean Gonsalves stated that the defendant arrived in Guyana via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri; and that the defendant’s passport was stamped by immigration to stay in the country for three months. However, he overstayed his time, without having any extension legally made to his permit.
Costas was fined $60,000. Should he fail to pay the fine a 30-day imprisonment will be implemented. He will be escorted to the nearest port of exit upon paying his fine or serving his time.
The charge against Yubisley Frank Pecho Quintana, 32, stated that between June 14 and July 13, 2016, in Georgetown, he too failed to comply with any conditions of a permit granted to him.
He pleaded guilty and was fined $60,000 or in default spend one months in prison, followed by immediate deportation.
Meanwhile, Providencia Esperanza Grullon Guzman faced two charges of forgery and overstaying her time. The charges stated that on April 14, 2016 she entered Guyana and should have left on May 13 but failed to comply with the immigration conditions.
Accused Rosario Palanco Deleidy was also charged for overstaying her time. Rosario arrived on August 8, 2016 and was scheduled to leave on September 7 but failed to do so. The defendant was also fined $60,000 or 30 days imprisonment upon failure to pay the fine.
The second charge against Guzman, 26, is that between April 14 and October 26, 2016, she conspired with persons to commit forgery. She arrived in Guyana and was granted one month’s stay but forged a passport stamp for an extension of three months, of her Dominican Republic passport #SE3374751f, purporting to show that same was stamped by Guyana immigration officials at CJIA.
The woman was represented by Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat, pleaded not guilty to both charges, and was remanded to prison until November 4, 2016.
Kenrick Bourne also appeared before Magistrate Latchman on charges of forgery. Bourne allegedly assisted in forging Guzman’s passport, by uttering same to an immigration officer, Constable Errol Charles, on October 26. He pleaded not guilty.
According to Fung-a-Fat who also represented this accused, stated that his client’s girlfriend asked him to have her stay in Guyana for an additional three months.
The lawyer said Bourne apparently applied for a one-month extension without realising that it had been changed to three months.
Despite the lawyer’s attempt to convince the magistrate to grant bail, it was refused. He too will reappear in court on November 4, 2016.
