Six Chinese who came to Guyana for employment and business ventures yesterday appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, at the Georgetown Magistrates Court.
It is alleged that on August 24, they gained legal entry through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri where they were permitted by immigration authorities one week to stay in Guyana.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford stated that on August 28, the citizens of China were intercepted in a car at the Guyana-Brazil border where immigration officials asked their destination.
Telford added that the driver of the vehicle said that he was contracted by the Chinese to take them to Brazil.
Attorney-at-law Euclin Gomes, who represented the Chinese, explained that his clients were in Lethem, where they were held, to look for business ventures and at the time of their arrests, were looking for a place to dine.
Gomes also said that his clients had applied for an extension of stay but were unable to process the request because they were arrested while legally in Guyana.
Prosecutor Telford explained that the Chinese had cancelled their flight back to China prior to their travel to Lethem.
Gomes then interjected that one of his clients applied for a permit to stay and was given extra time to stay.
Telford then said that the individual whom the defence claimed had permission to stay in Guyana is a totally different person.
The magistrate, through an interpreter from the Chinese Association, asked the defendants if they would like to return to China, to which all six responded “No”.
Telford, who made a request for them to be deported, asked why would they cancel their flights home and head to Brazil. More so a permit to stay would take some time to be granted.
The magistrate then adjourned the court for 10 minutes to review the file.
When Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry returned, she explained that she needed some time to review the Immigration Act to make a determination.
The matter was adjourned to September 18 for a proper assessment and to make a decision.
