A man was on Thursday fined $40,000 with an alternative of a three-month prison term after he admitted to falsely saying that he was never the holder of a passport.
Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry imposed the sentence on Shahabadeen Dhanpat, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The charge against Dhanpat, 29,stated that on January 5, at the Central Immigration and Passport Office, Shahabadeen Dhanpat made a false statement on a declaration form that he was never the holder of a passport, knowing same to be false. Dhanpat, a fisherman, pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Presenting the prosecution’s facts, Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey said Dhanpat was at the Passport Office, where he was making an application for the travel document and he signed on a declaration that he was never the holder of a passport. The court heard that as the application was being processed, however, background checks revealed that he had previously been issued with a passport. This led to his subsequent arrest and charge.
When asked why he committed the crime, Dhanpat, who immediately took responsibility for his action, said that he was sorry and that it would not happen again. He said, “It was a mistake and I was hurry to get it over with and get a passport.”
