A Columbian accused of forging an extension of stay stamp was yesterday refused bail by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Cruz Ramiro Miria denied that on April 7, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Immigration Officer, Constable 2506 Coonjah, a Columbian Passport #AM347129 with a false Republic of Guyana extension of stay stamp, with work permit dated August 25, 2010, proposing to show that it was issued by the Central Immigration and Passport Office in Georgetown, knowing that same was false.
He also denied a second charge that between August 25, 2010 and April 7, 2011, in Georgetown, he conspired with persons unknown to present a false extension of stay for his work permit in his Columbian Passport, proposing to show that same was issued on August 25 at the Central Immigration and Passport Office.
The charges were translated from English to Spanish when read to Miria and when prompted he responded “no culpable” (not guilty) to both, in his native tongue.
Police prosecutor, Corporal Venetta Pindar told the court that Miria is a trader, and he came to Guyana on May 8, 2010 and was granted two months stay. Pindar said that during this time, Miria stayed at the home of a friend named Lester, who told him that he (Miria) can get the time on his passport extended.
According to Pindar, Miria handed over the passport to ‘Lester’, who took and later returned the document. Pindar said that Miria subsequently left Guyana but returned on April 7 when he was confronted at the airport and told that the document in his passport was false. He was subsequently arrested and charged.
The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that the defendant has no ties in Guyana and, if released, there is the possibility that he might not return to court.
In an application for bail, Miria’s attorney said that her client has a friend [who was present in court], who was willing to give her particulars, and with whom he could stay. However, after the friend gave her particulars to the magistrate, bail was still refused and the matter transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court for April 11.
