Venezuelan national Alexander Betancourt, who has admitted to entering Guyana illegally, was on Friday arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman on an illegal entry charge for which he was fined $50,000 and ordered deported.
In admitting his guilt, the 35-year-old said he had come to Guyana in search of a job.
The Prosecution’s contention was that on November 2, 2017, at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River, Betancourt entered Guyana by sea, and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer.
Police prosecutor Sean Gonsalves related to the court that Police were conducting a road block exercise when they stopped a car in which the Venezuelan was travelling. He was asked by an officer to produce his passport, but informed officers that he “didn’t have one”. Accordingly, he was taken to the CID Headquarters, where an investigation was carried out.
Magistrate Latchman’s imposed fine carries the stipulation that Betancourt’s failure to pay same would result in the Venezuelan having to serve one month’s imprisonment.
