West African charged with illegal entry, deported

A man from Sierra Leone, West Africa, on Tuesday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with illegal entry into Guyana.

Samuel David, 38, admitted that on December 22, 2016 at Lethem, Rupununi, he entered Guyana by way of air and failed to present himself to an immigration officer.

The prosecution told the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan that on January 7, 2017, the defendant attempted to make a purchase at a popular jewellery store with a suspected forged credit card. As such, the personnel at the store reported the matter to the Police who arrested David and took him to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning.

It was there that it was discovered that he was from Sierra Leone and illegally entered Guyana. In a plea of mitigation, David’s Attorney told the court that he was in Guyana to propose to his girlfriend. The Attorney also told the court that David was born and raised in Sierra Leone, but has been living in Brazil for a number of years.

She made a successful application for leniency for her client, explaining to the Chief Magistrate that her client has two minor sons and has never had any other brushes with the law.

As such, he was fined $30,000 and deported.